NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Kraken vs. Jets (February 17)
Via Jonathan Kozub/Getty Images. Pictured: Eric Comrie
- The Kraken visit Winnipeg to face the Jets on Thursday night.
- The Jets are heavy home favorites, but are they overvalued on the second leg of a back-to-back?
- NHL betting analyst Tony Sartori breaks down the matchup and shares his best bet below.
Kraken vs. Jets Odds
| Kraken Odds | +165 |
| Jets Odds | -200 |
| Over/Under | 6.5 (+100/-120) |
| Time | 8:08 p.m. ET |
| TV | XX |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Pacific Division's eighth-place Seattle Kraken start their three-game road trip in Winnipeg against the Central Division's sixth-place Jets. Thursday will be the second meeting between these two teams this season, as Winnipeg won the first contest 3-0 back in early December in Seattle.
Will we see another dominant performance by the Jets, or can the Kraken even up the season series?
Kraken Looking for Momentum
The Seattle Kraken enter this contest following Monday's 6-2 loss at home to the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was yet another rough outing for Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who got yanked after allowing three goals on just 11 shots.
Monday was more of the same in an absolutely brutal season for Grubauer, who now has just a 0.885 SV% on the year. Among starting goaltenders, Grubauer ranks dead last in 5-on-5 Goals Saved Above Expected per 60 minutes (GSAx).
Grubauer will struggle to find help in front of him as well. This season, Seattle ranks 31st in the league in 5-on-5 Expected Goals For per 60 minutes (xGF) and 27th in Average Expected Goal Value of 5-on-5 shot attempts.
Not only have the Kraken been the worst team in the Pacific Division this year, but they have been one of the worst in hockey. The Kraken have now lost 18 of their last 25 games.
Comrie Leads the Jets
I believe we are getting value on the Jets tonight due to the fact that they are on the second half of a back-to-back and will be starting their backup goaltender. Eric Comrie, however, has been a tremendous backup for Winnipeg this season.
This season, Comrie boasts a 0.920 SV% and would rank second amongs starting goaltenders in 5-on-5 Goals Saved Above Expected per 60 minutes (GSAx). Winnipeg's backup goaltender has yet to surrender more than three goals in a contest this season.
Comrie should be getting a good amount of help in front of him as well. The Jets currently rank 11th in the league in 5-on-5 Expected Goals For per 60 minutes (xGF) and will have a strong advantage in special teams as they have the 11th-best power play unit while the Kraken have the sixth-worst penalty-killing unit.
Kraken vs. Jets Pick
Tonight is simply a don't-overthink-It game for me. The Jets have the better roster, better goaltender, and home-ice advantage.
Seattle does not perform well away from home as they have lost six of their last eight games as a road underdog. Winnipeg took care of business in their first matchup this season, and I think they will do the same thing Thursday.
Pick: Winnipeg Jets 3-Way ML -125 | Play down to -135
How would you rate this article?