Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups. Today we are looking at the game between the Seattle Kraken vs. Colorado Avalanche in this round of NHL Predictions. Be sure to check out more NHL Predictions as the 2024-25 season continues.
NHL Predictions
Seattle Kraken vs. Colorado Avalanche
Time: 9:00 p.m Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: SN1, KHN, ALT, KONG
The Seattle Kraken (5-7-1) head to the Mile High City to take on the Colorado Avalanche (5-7-0) for their fifth and final stop of an early season road trip. This is the second of three matchups between these Western Conference foes this season. The Avalanche beat the Kraken 3-2 earlier this season in Seattle. Each team will be looking to get back into the win column as both Colorado and Seattle have lost their last three games. Someones losing streak will come to an end tonight!
Seattle Looking to Get Back on The Scoreboard
Seattle’s offence has gone into a bit of a slumber. The Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins posted back-to-back shutouts against the Kraken over the weekend. This was after Seattle only scored one goal in Toronto. They seem to have used up all their goals in a 8-2 blowout against the Montreal Canadiens last week. They are currently averaging 2.77 GF/G, good for twenty-first in the NHL. Their shooting percentage of 10.3% ranks twentieth. These numbers suggest that the Kraken are an average offensive team. The are a goal-scoring by committee team so someone will have to step up and break this drought.
However, against Colorado Seattle might want to rely on their defensive structure. The Avalanche are top heavy with all their injuries so relying on the strong defence and goaltending that has the Kraken ranked in the top-10 in goals against might be the recipe for success. Can they create more offence without sacrificing defence?
Artturi Lehkonen Returns For Banged Up Avs
The Avalanche began the season by losing their first four games before winning their next five. Now riding another losing streak Colorado will hope the return of one of their key forwards can spark another winning streak. Injuries have played a big factor in the Avs early season performance. This will be Artturi Lehkonen’s first game of the season and it couldn’t come at a better time. Most of the key players upfront are still on the shelf leading to a severe lack of depth scoring. Expect Lehkonen to either line up beside Nathan MacKinnon or Casey Mittelstadt in the top six for this game. He will have to hit the ground running to aide this decimated forward group. A Swiss Army knife type of forward, Lehkonen should also factor into both special teams units upon his return.
Who starts will be another question that needs answering. The Avalanche’s goaltending troubles have also been a major reason for the teams inconsistency. Three different goalies have started for the Avs so far this season. Justus Annunen has had the most success winning four games but his save percentage is sub .900. The presumptive starter Alexandar Georgiev has carried over his struggles from last postseason. His numbers are ugly with a GAA of 4.62, a SV% of .822, and only one win. To try and solve the issue Colorado picked up Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers. Unfortunately, in his only game he allowed four goals on twenty shots. Whoever plays against Seattle will need to play much better.
Prediction
Two key areas could determine the outcome of this game. Special teams and offensive production. Seattle has slipped to 17th on the PP. Against an Avalanche PK that is ranked 28th they might be able to get back on track. More importantly Seattle will have to make sure to contain Colorado’s 2nd ranked PP which is converting at 34%. The Kraken were averaging 3.36 goals/game before their weekend matchups so it is unlikely they get shutout again especially against the Avalanche’s netminders. Will Colorado have enough offensive fire power in their lineup to overcome their poor goaltending?
Prediction: Avalanche win 4-3 in overtime
Prop Bets of The Night
Cale Makar is tied for the league lead in points and has 2+ points in his last two games against the Kraken. He seems like a good bet to grad a point. As an anytime goal scorer he is +320 on FanDuel Sportsbook. If you would like to build a parlay off this prediction, a parlay of over 6.5 goals, the game going to overtime, and the Avalanche winning on the money line has odds of +1269.
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Main Photo: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
