On Saturday, the Minnesota Wild and the Seattle Kraken are set to clash at the Xcel Energy Center. The Wild, buoyed by a recent 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, are in good form. In the previous season, the Wild were a formidable moneyline favorite, ending with an impressive 26-13 record. With an estimated win probability of 58.8% for this game, there’s a lot to be hopeful about. Their strong power-play performance (62 goals, eighth in the NHL) and scoring average of 3.0 goals per game are particularly encouraging. While the Kraken’s success as an underdog last season was notable, with 33.3% of their wins coming from upsets, they face a tough challenge against the Wild’s potent offense.
On the other side, Seattle was defeated by the St. Louis Blues by a score of 3-2 in their most recent game. Despite having a solid defensive record (2.8 goals against per game, eighth in the NHL), the Kraken’s offensive statistics (2.6 goals per game, 214 total goals) suggest that their offense is fairly unchanging. Considering the Wild’s prowess on the power play and their impressive record at home, it is likely that they will be able to restrict the attack of the Kraken. The fact that the Wild allowed 260 goals in total during the previous season indicates that they have a defense that is susceptible to weaknesses; nonetheless, they should be able to capitalize on Seattle’s poor scoring power. I recommend placing a wager on the Wild with a total handicap of -1. They have a powerful power play, a strong home advantage, and a predicted win probability, giving them a good bet to win by a more than one goal margin.