The St. Louis Blues and Seattle Kraken face off in what will be one of the first games to kick off the new NHL season. The game takes place tomorrow at Climate Pledge Arena, and based on the odds, we think this game is going to be a bit more competitive than most would think.
At -142, the Seattle Kraken are favored to win this matchup on the moneyline, while the St. Louis Blues are priced at +120.
The puck line favors the Kraken at -1.5 (+180), while the Blues are sitting at +1.5 (-218).
The total is set at 5.5 goals, with the over slightly favored at -120 compared to the under at +100.
Overall, these odds are what you’d come to expect from these two teams.
Seattle Kraken come into this season looking to build on their performance from last year. They struggled in overtime but consistently played well in close games.
Last season Seattle recorded 29 points in one-goal games, going 10-7-9 in those contests. Their offense tends to struggle when limited to one or two goals, but when they manage more, the Kraken are nearly unbeatable, with a 29-3-9 record in those games.
Their defense, however, is really the star of the show. Ranked 8th in goals allowed per game (2.83), the Kraken’s ability to suppress shots and limit high-danger chances makes them dominant on home ice. Expect them to lean on this defensive strength to stymie the Blues' aggressive attack.
The Blues, on the other hand, had a decent 43-33-6 record last season, though they were inconsistent in close games.
St. Louis finished 12-6-18 in overtime games, which really shows their struggle in sealing games once they go beyond regulation. In one-goal games, they were slightly better, picking up 28 points in 19 contests. Still that is not too great.
St. Louis' biggest concern is their defensive inconsistency. They ranked 13th in goals allowed per game (3.02), which could be an issue against a Kraken team that’s always dangerous when scoring three or more goals.
If the Blues can't tighten up defensively, it could be a long night for them in Seattle.
We see Seattle's defensive skills and home-ice advantage as their biggest edge here.
The Kraken are tough to beat when they score more than two goals, and with their ability to dominate defensively, expect them to come out strong in their season opener.
St. Louis will certainly fight to keep things close. Their tendency to fall short in overtime and inconsistency on defense may ultimately hold them back.
BettorsInsiders Best Bet: Kraken on the Moneyline (-142)
We like the Kraken to win this game outright, even though it may be a close one. At the very least, closer than we’d like to see. Their strong defense and ability to capitalize on scoring chances should give them the advantage.
For those feeling adventurous, the over 5.5 goals (-120) looks like a solid play, too.
Both teams have shown they can be involved in higher-scoring affairs when their defenses aren’t locked in. However, the Kraken’s defense may limit St. Louis enough to keep the total just under the line.
Final Score Prediction: Kraken 4, Blues 2