Kings vs Kraken Predictions, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks
Kraken Look for Strong Finish to Maiden Voyage
The Seattle Kraken are skating to a forgettable first season and welcome the Los Angeles Kings, who made the playoffs for the first time in years, as the regular season nears an end.
The Los Angeles Kings are locked into a first-round playoff matchup with the Edmonton Oilers, their first playoff appearance since 2017-18. They’ve clinched a playoff appearance, giving them NHL playoff odds, though a win or overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken would be enough to lock in a series.
Let’s check the latest NHL lines, stats, injury reports, and NHL odds for Kings vs Kraken. We have plenty of NHL picks and predictions.
Also check on these NHL betting lines.
Kings Must Play Within Itself
The Los Angeles Kings are winners of four straight and five of the last six. One thing that separates them and has them in the playoff hunt is being strong in the defensive third. Los Angeles is second in shots against per game at 28.4 and ninth in goals against per game at 2.8. Flip to the attacking third and the Kings are fourth in shot attempts at 35 per game.
What they’ve been able to do defensively having lost defensemen Drew Doughty and Sean Walker for the season is remarkable. They may also be without Mikey Anderson (upper body) into the postseason.
Anze Kopitar leads the team with 66 points and 47 assists. The top goalscorer is Adrian Kempe with 34 goals. Cup-winning goaltender Jonathan Quick is allowing 2.58 goals against and is 22-18-5.
Kraken Needs to Finish Out
Where the Los Angeles Kings are strong, the Seattle Kraken are weak, and that’s in Seattle’s attacking third. The Kraken are 30th in goals scored at 2.6 per game and 29th in shot attempts at 28.8. Defensively, they’re fifth in shots allowed per game at 29.
Three Kraken have scored at least 20 goals, paced by Jared McCann’s 26. He’s also the top point earner at 48. Vince Dunn leads the team with 28 assists, though he is questionable with an upper-body injury.
The Kraken are struggling to the finish line in their inaugural season, losers of three straight. Their last win came as heavy underdogs (+220) against the Colorado Avalanche. In their previous 6-1 win over the Kings, the Kraken took it to goaltender Cal Peterson. If he’s in net, they should try to pepper the net again.
Kings vs Kraken Head-to-Head
With the Seattle Kraken in their first season as an expansion team, it’s a rather small sample size in the head-to-head with the Los Angeles Kings. Through three games, the Kings have won a pair, though the Kraken won 6-1 last time out on March 28. That ticket cashed at +178 odds. The Kings won both of their games by two goals. The over/under is 1-1-1 in those three games, so keep that in mind when betting online.
Kings vs Kraken Game Information
- Game: Kings (96 points, 43-27-10) vs Kraken (58 points, 26-47-6)
- Location: Climate Pledge Arena
- Time/Day: 10 p.m. ET, Wednesday April 27
- Kings vs Kraken Live stream: NHL.TV
Kings vs Kraken Betting Lines
The Los Angeles Kings are heavy favorites at -1½ (+140) and at -175 on the moneyline. Of course, the record disparity explains why that’s the case. The Seattle Kraken are +1.5 (-160) and +155 on the moneyline. The over/under is six goals.
Kings vs Kraken Prediction
With season fates of both teams sorted out, anything goes with this late-season skate. Should Quick be in net for the Los Angeles Kings, they should be able to cover the spread, as they did twice already this season – with Peterson, anything goes.
Be sure to check the sportsbook with the latest odds as that information becomes available. The Seattle Kraken very well could force a season series split. For a team facing as much potential turnover, those who are healthy to skate will be trying to make strong last impressions with pending offseason changes on the horizon.
If odds move in the Kraken’s favor, it’s worth considering at plus money, especially if Kings players are resting with a playoff spot locked in.
Pick: Kings -1½ (+140)
