Seattle Kraken vs Los Angeles Kings Prediction — Can the Kraken Win the Series?

Both the Seattle Kraken and the Los Angeles Kings are right in the thick of the Pacific Division playoff race, and tonight’s matchup is a big one that has some serious implications. Seattle has taken the first 2 games of the 4-game season series, but now they’ll need to get it done on the road at Crypto.com Arena. Both teams are tightly packed in the middle of the standings, with Seattle sitting just one point ahead of LA, and both teams less than 2 games out from the top. With playoff implications and momentum on the line, this is shaping up to be a gritty, high-stakes divisional Wednesday night showdown.

Game Details and Betting Odds

It’s a late one as the puck drops at 10 p.m. EST in Los Angeles. Despite Seattle taking the first 2 games, the Kings opened as favorites and currently sit there at around -205 on the moneyline, with the Kraken as +160 underdogs. The total is set at 5.5, with the over slightly favored.

The first 2 meetings both went Seattle’s way, where the first ended in a 3-2 OT win and the second as a 3-2 regulation win, which gives them a 2-0 edge in the season series. Despite that, bookmakers are leaning toward the home side here.

Seattle is 26-20-9 overall, including 11-6-1 within the division. LA comes in at 23-17-14, with a 5-1-8 mark in Pacific matchups.

The Kings tend to win when their offense shows up, as they’re 18-1-7 when scoring 3+ goals. But scoring 3 has been a challenge as of late.

Momentum, Matchups, and Recent Trends

Seattle comes into this game having won 4 of its last 5, beating Washington, Toronto, Vegas, and New Jersey before a letdown in Anaheim. That streak wasn’t fluky, and those teams weren’t pushovers. The Kraken outscored opponents 19-9 over that stretch and are averaging 3.3 GF/G over their last 10, nearly a full goal more than the Kings over that same span.

The Kings, meanwhile, have struggled to finish games. They’ve won 3 of their last 5, which isn’t too bad, but 2 of their recent wins required OT. LA’s last regulation win came back on January 27 against Detroit. Since then, they’ve fallen to Buffalo and needed extra time against Carolina, Philly, and St. Louis.

Goaltending favors LA slightly as Darcy Kuemper and his .902 SV% and 2.55 GAA are projected to start and have been solid lately. But Joey Daccord, who has a .902 SV% and 2.83 GAA, has more total wins and has been in the crease for all of Seattle’s big recent wins.

The offensive edge is clearly with Seattle right now. Jordan Eberle is getting the job done with his 20 goals and 18 assists, and Jared McCann is red-hot with 12 points over the last 10 games. They’ve been getting depth scoring and have a better power play too, where they’re converting at 22.6% vs LA’s 15.6%, a big gap for 2 teams in close standings battles.

LA’s top scorer, Adrian Kempe, to no surprise, is doing his part with 45 points spanning 20 goals and 25 helpers, but there’s not much help in the lineup behind him. The Kings are 31st in goals and assists. Even with a better penalty kill — 77.3% to Seattle’s 72.1% — they’re not finishing enough chances to stay competitive in low-scoring games.

Prediction — Kraken Keep the Pressure On

This really comes down to recent form and execution. The Kings aren’t finishing games, and the Kraken are not only winning — they’re doing it convincingly against some of the toughest teams in the NHL. Seattle has more offensive depth, better power-play production, and has already beaten LA twice this season.

The Kings may be at home, and that’s probably a big reason they’re favorites for tonight, but they haven’t protected their building well. And in a game this tight in the standings, Seattle should smell blood in the water. They’re undoubtedly clicking, and if Daccord plays well enough, that should be enough.

• Prediction: Kraken 3, Kings 2 (good chance of OT)
• Best Bet: Seattle Kraken Moneyline at +160

It’s not often you get a team on a 4-1 run, with two head-to-head wins already, at +160 odds, but we’ll take it! Seattle is playing better hockey right now, has the offensive edge, and looks more cohesive. The value of this bet is too strong to pass up.

If you’re looking for something a little safer, the Kraken have won both games this season by a single goal. So, you can take Seattle at +1.5 as it’s also worth a look for those who want a little insurance — but we’re sticking with the moneyline for the better payout and because we expect them to win outright and take game 3 of the series.