NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Kraken vs Rangers (Tuesday, January 16)
(Photo by Christopher Mast/NHLI via Getty Images). Pictured: Matty Beniers #10 of the Seattle Kraken.
Kraken vs. Rangers Odds
| Kraken Odds | +164 |
| Rangers Odds | -200 |
| Over / Under | 5.5 -130o / +106u |
Here's everything you need to know about the Seattle Kraken vs. New York Rangers on Tuesday, Jan. 16 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
Before yesterday, Seattle relished the new calendar year. Dating back to Dec. 20, the Kraken owned a franchise best nine straight victories — and then Pittsburgh happened. They’ll look to get back on the wagon Tuesday against a formidable opponent. The Rangers came out on top Sunday in a 2-1 win over the Capitals. However, prior to that, they were dealing with a four-game losing streak — their longest all season.
Let's get into our Kraken vs. Rangers preview and prediction.
It will be interesting to see if Seattle comes into this game shorthanded again. Vince Dunn, its leading scorer, and Matty Beniers were both ruled out before Monday's game. If they are unavailable again, it will be up to Oliver Bjorkstrand, Eeli Tolvanen and Jared McCann to pick up the slack.
Despite a slow start to the season, the Kraken have built an incredible 5-on-5 attack. They’re ranked 11th in expected goals with a 51.95 xGF% and fifth defensively with a 2.37 xGA/60.
Seattle’s special teams are also efficient. It scores on the power play at a 21% clip and boasts an 80.5% success rate on the penalty kill.
With Joey Daccord starting Monday, I’d anticipate the Kraken to look to their backup in goal. Daccord has played a lot since seemingly taking over the starting spot, so we will probably see Chris Driedger in this one. In only one start, Driedger stopped 37 out of 38 shots and has a 2.6 goals saved above expected (GSAx).
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New York is stacked from top to bottom, and it starts with Artemi Panarin. The “Bread Man,” as they call him, is playing like an MVP candidate with 59 points in 42 games. Vincent Trocheck is also averaging a point per game while Mika Zibanejad isn’t too far behind. Chris Kreider is also always a threat, as he’s notched over 35 goals the past two seasons.
The Rangers were never the best 5-on-5 team. They’re only 18th with a 49.74 xGF% and defensively are 18th with a 2.69 xGA/60. Holding the man advantage is where they get their juice from. New York is second in the league on the power play, scoring 28.2% of the time, while the penalty kill thrives at 83.8%.
The Igor Shesterkin we’ve seen this year is not the Shesterkin I anticipated. The former Vezina Trophy winner has posted career-low numbers with a below average .903 SV% and a 4.2 GSAx. This recent stretch hasn’t been kind to him, with Shesterkin playing to an .856 SV% in his last five starts.
Kraken vs. Rangers
Betting Pick & Prediction
Despite the Rangers having a very inconsistent stretch and the Kraken having a red hot January, Seattle is still the heavy underdog. It makes sense since the Rangers are 14-6 at home, but counting out Seattle is a bit of a reach.
In fact, I think we may see a high-scoring game. Even though New York doesn’t generate a ton of high-octane 5-on-5 offense, it is most likely facing a backup goalie in this matchup. With the firepower that they have, I can see at least three goals from the Rangers.
The over seems tantalizing here, and I think it might just hit.
Pick: Over 5.5 at -130
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