The Seattle Kraken (3-2-2) and Winnipeg Jets (5-1-0) meet in an NHL Western Conference battle tonight. Puck drop is set for 8:00 p.m. EDT at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Jets are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 5.5 (-120o / +102u). The Jets are a -226 favorite to win outright, while the Kraken are +185 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Kraken vs. Jets predictions and NHL picks.
Kraken vs. Jets Odds, Pick
| Kraken Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -135 | 5.5 -120o / +102u | +185 |
| Jets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +114 | 5.5 -120o / +102u | -226 |
- Kraken vs. Jets Spread: Jets -1.5 (+114 ), Kraken +1.5 (-135)
- Kraken vs. Jets Over/Under: 5.5 (-120o / +102u)
- Kraken vs. Jets Moneyline: Kraken +185, Jets -226
Kraken vs. Jets Preview
Seattle Kraken
For as long as Ron Francis is in charge of putting together this roster, don’t expect Seattle to be much of anything. I love the arena, love the jerseys, love the Seattle fans, but my god, one look at this roster and you just say to yourself “I don’t get it.”
Let’s not forget that Lane Lambert is the coach now, and as an Islander fan, I’ve had the displeasure of watching Lambert toil away in mediocrity as the head honcho. The numbers seem to add up: a fourth-worst 5-on-5 team with a 42.53 xGF% and, on defense, an 11th-worst 2.76 xGA/60.
The one fun part about this team is Shane Wright, who, after his successful rookie campaign, seems ready to take one step closer to being a 60-point forward.
Beyond Wright, I find it hard to get excited about this team. Vince Dunn is one of my favorite defensemen, but he’s withering away in “The Deep.”
Goaltender Joey Daccord is a fun story, and it was great to see him parlay his hard work into a lucrative five-year contract. But right now, he’s been just fine to start the season. He’s playing to a sub-.900 SV% and a -2.5 GSAx.
Winnipeg Jets
Count me in as one of the people who thought the Jets were going to post a less-than-stellar season this year.
Granted, the season’s still very early, but I’m encouraged with the results.
Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor continue to carry the load, averaging over a point per game, and veteran Jonathan Toews seems to be picking up right where he left off after a long break.
I’m still wary of the depth, as I don’t know what the signings of Cole Koepke, Tanner Pearson and Gustav Nyquist will do in the long run, but as of now, they’ve held on just fine.
Even with the current five-game win streak, the 5-on-5 play has actually been terrible. Offensively, the Jets are playing at a league-worst 39.27 xGF% and a ninth-worst 2.88 xGA/60.
Luckily, though, Winnipeg’s special teams have been killing it, with a third-best power play and a league-leading penalty kill.
Having the reigning Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy winner certainly doesn’t hurt either. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck hasn’t stopped being elite, posting a .927 SV% and a 6.8 GSAx.
Kraken vs. Jets Prediction
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Jets are the better squad here — and the current win streak that they’re on, even with the poor metrics, only showcases that.
It’s just hard to back the Kraken in a duel that'll already be their sixth consecutive road game, especially when they got smacked back-to-back by Philadelphia and Washington.
Not only that, three games in four nights, with the first two games being on the East Coast, and then they have to travel to Winnipeg?
As much as I rip on the team, that travel schedule is ruthless.
I like the Jets on the puckline here.
Pick: Jets -1.5 (+114)
