Anaheim Ducks vs Seattle Kraken Betting Picks

The Ducks are riding a five-game winning streak, and doing so surprisingly through defense. Anaheim is giving up an average of 1.6 goals a game during its last five games. Talented goalie Lukas Dostal has emerged from a slump to play well again. Dostal stopped 42 shots in the Ducks' 2-1 road shootout win against the Avalanche two days ago as a $2.55 underdog. Anaheim is going to have to guard against a letdown in this spot. The Ducks have been forced to become more defensive-minded because of injuries. Their leading point producer, Leo Carlsson, is out while Troy Terry and Mason McTavish are day-to-day. Terry has more points than any Seattle player. The Kraken rank 25th offensively and 28th in shots on goal. They are much better defensively, ranking 11th. Seattle is averaging 2.7 goals a game during its past eight games. Take the UNDER.

Seattle comes off a 4-2 win over San Jose on Saturday, but it was only its second win in 12 games. The Kraken have lost four of five playing with one day of rest and four of five after allowing two or fewer goals in their previous game. Anaheim has won five of nine, including 4-3 over Columbus two nights ago. Pavel Mintyukon scored the game-winner with 3:29 left, and Lukas Dostal stopped 23 of 26 shots for the Ducks. Dostal is 13-7-1 with a 2.91 goals-against average. Anaheim has won four of five against the Pacific Division, and it has won six of eight versus teams with less than a .400 winning percentage. The Ducks are #3 in the NHL in goals per game (3.44), and the Kraken are #31 (2.52). Seattle goalie Joey Daccord has lost nine of his past 12 starts. Take the Ducks.

Anaheim was outscored by 42 goals last season, the fourth-worst differential in the Western Conference. They overhauled much of the roster and the coaching staff. Last year, the offense ranked 30th in goals scored and last on the power play. Seattle won two of its three preseason home games by scores of 4-2 and 5-3 under new head coach Lane Lambert. They brought up three talented kids from the minors, plus added veteran forwards Mason Marchment and Freddy Gaudreau, and defenseman Ryan Lindgren. Play Seattle on the puckline.

Anaheim ended an eight-game losing streak against the Kraken by defeating them 5-2 on Nov. 27. Now the Ducks are going for their third straight win after victories over Pittsburgh and Nashville. Lukas Dostal replaced injured John Gibson in the Ducks' 5-2 win over the Predators on Saturday and stopped 32 of 33 shots. Dostal is 12-13-4 with a 2.93 goals-against average. Philipp Grubauer is probable for Seattle and he is 5-14-1 with a 3.76 GAA and a .870 save percentage. Five of the past seven meetings have gone UNDER and the Kraken have stayed UNDER their past three games. Anaheim is 5-1 UNDER its past six against the Pacific Division. Seattle has lost 13 of its past 20 games and four of its past five versus the Western Conference. Take the Ducks and the UNDER.