Stars vs Kraken Odds, Pick, Prediction: NHL Playoffs Game 1

Kraken vs. Stars Odds

The Seattle Kraken shocked the world by knocking off the defending champs. Now, they head to Texas to take on the Dallas Stars. Seattle is enjoying its first playoff run in franchise history and now faces a team against which it went 1-2 in the regular season.

Dallas is coming off a nifty 4-2 victory against the Minnesota Wild, including three straight wins to close out the series. The Stars are coming into their groove, only allowing one goal in their last two games.

Here’s a look at our odds, as well as our prediction for Game 1 of the Seattle Kraken vs. Dallas Stars.

Seattle Kraken

In Game 7 against the Colorado Avalanche, Oliver Bjorkstand was flying. He scored Seattle’s only goals to win the series on Sunday, but hit the post three (!) times as well. Yanni Gourde’s Stanley Cup experience has been huge for this team — as well as Jaden Schwartz and Justin Schultz. Forty-goal scorer Jared McCann’s status is still unknown, and I speculate that we will not see him in Game 1.

The Kraken have played well on offense and have a ton of jump. They rank eighth in expected goals with a 50.63 xGF%, though the power play could be much better at 14%.

Seattle’s 5-on-5 defense can be better with a 2.68 xGA/60, but the penalty kill was clicking. The Kraken’s penalty kill was successful 89% of the time, which is even more impressive considering their adversary.

Philipp Grubauer’s tenure in Seattle has been a roller coaster. However, it’s looking like Grubauer is starting to feel at home in the Emerald City. The German ended his season on a high note and helped catapult the Kraken to their first playoff series win, playing to a .934 SV% and a +2.9 goals saved above expected (GSAx).

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Dallas Stars

Dallas’ best players have shown up. Roope Hintz dominated, leading all playoff performers by averaging 1.5 points per game. Jason Robertson had a slow start this postseason, but he has picked it back up with seven points in six games. Miro Heiskanen has been a huge part of the Stars' blue line, while also averaging a point per game. The depth in Dallas is just too much, and they’ll be getting veteran Joe Pavelski back from injury.

While they entered the playoffs a little slow, the Stars have really picked up their game. At 5-on-5, they rank fifth with a 52.62 xGF% and third in power play, scoring 41% of the time.

Not only that, but fewer teams have been better defensively than the Stars. They rank second with a 2.28 xGA/60 and a fourth-best penalty kill at 82%.

Jake Oettinger has built out his short career as a premier playoff performer. In six games, Oettinger has played to a dominant .929 SV% and a +4.3 GSAx. He’s been a huge part of this season, playing all but three games since February 18.

Kraken vs. Stars Pick

As impressive as Seattle’s run has been, I think it may come to an end.

Aside from the Oilers, the Stars are the most dangerous team in the playoffs. Defeating the defending Cup champs is an incredible feat, but Colorado was without its captain, Cale Makar was suspended for a game and Val Nichushkin left the team for personal reasons.

I really like the Kraken — don’t get me wrong — but they’re also banged up. McCann likely won’t be back for Game 1, and Andre Burakovsky is still out. Dallas is just too powerful for them, and Oettinger is playing on another level. With the way Hintz and Robertson lit up the Wild, I wouldn’t be surprised if the same happens to Seattle.

Pick: Dallas Stars 3-Way Line (-120)