Minnesota Wild vs Seattle Kraken Betting Picks

Lack of scoring has put the Kraken's playoff hopes on life support. Seattle has scored eight goals in its last five games - all losses - for an average of 1.6. The Kraken have been held to two or fewer goals in eight of their last 10 games. They rank 27th in scoring this season and do not have a goal scorer among the top 50. Seattle must play a strong defensive game to overcome its lack of offense. The Wild are in a tight battle for home ice advantage in the approaching playoffs. So they are likely not to take any wild chances, keeping things conservative. Minnesota is giving up 2.3 goals a game during its past three games. The Wild have the fourth stingiest defense in the NHL, and their goaltending tandem is back in form. The first two meetings in the series this season both went UNDER, with Minnesota winning 3-2 in overtime on Jan. 8 and 4-1 on Dec. 8. Each of those games was in Seattle. Take the UNDER.  

Minnesota has won seven of the past nine meetings overall and six straight at Seattle. The Wild will have Jesper Wallstedt in the crease tonight and he is 11-2-4 with a 2.30 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage with four shutouts this season. Minnesota just concluded a six-game trip and won three of them for 10 wins in its past 15 games. The Wild will attempt to snap the Kraken's four-game win streak. Minnesota is #2 in the NHL, allowing just 2.64 goals per game, and it is 5-0 in its past five games, playing with two days' rest. Seattle has lost four of five against Central Division teams, and the Kraken are 7-19 in their past 26 games in the third game of a 3-in-4 days situation. Seattle has lost 48 of 67 against teams with winning records dating to last season. Take the Wild. 

Minnesota has won six of the past eight meetings, and this is the first one this season. The Wild have won eight of 11, although they will look to snap a two-game slide in their fourth consecutive road game. Filip Gustavsson is expected to start after rookie Jesper Wallstedt had a rare off night, allowing four goals in his team's 4-1 loss to Vancouver on Saturday. Gustavsson has a 2,76 goals-against average with two shutouts this season. Seattle has hit the skid, losing five in a row while getting outscored 21-9. The Kraken have lost five of seven home games, and they are 15-46 in their past 61 games against teams with winning records. The Kraken are 1-5 in their past six home contests against Minnesota, and they have won only six of 13 at home this season. Take the Wild.

Minnesota comes off a 1-0 win over Boston. They're 21-9-3 on the road, anchored by a defense that is sixth in save percentage (.909) and 11th in goals given up (2.85 per game). The offense is 20th in shooting percentage, 23rd on the power play, and 23rd in goals scored. Seattle's offense is 26th on the power play. Seattle is on an 8-5 run UNDER the total, and this shapes up as a game with more defense than offense. Take Minnesota/Seattle UNDER the total.