The Seattle Kraken enter this matchup against the Minnesota Wild with a 26-31-4 record, sitting outside the playoff picture and in desperate need of a late-season push to keep their postseason hopes alive. It has been a frustrating year for the Kraken, who have struggled with inconsistency on both ends of the ice. While they have shown flashes of being a competitive team, their inability to sustain success over long stretches has kept them from climbing the standings in the Western Conference. Heading into this game, Seattle faces a daunting challenge against a Minnesota team that has been dominant at home and possesses one of the league’s strongest defensive units. If the Kraken hope to steal a victory at Xcel Energy Center, they will need a complete team effort, starting with strong goaltending and a disciplined defensive approach. Offensively, Seattle has had a middling season, averaging 2.93 goals per game, which places them in the middle of the NHL rankings. Jared McCann continues to be the team’s most reliable scoring threat, leading the Kraken with 44 points, including 15 goals and 29 assists. While McCann has been effective, Seattle lacks a true superstar to carry the offense, which has led to long scoring droughts in key moments. Chandler Stephenson has been one of the few bright spots, contributing 41 points with a mix of playmaking and finishing ability, while veteran Jaden Schwartz has chipped in with 37 points. The Kraken’s biggest issue has been depth scoring, as their bottom-six forwards have struggled to contribute consistently. Against a structured Wild team that does not give up many high-danger chances, Seattle will need its secondary scorers to step up if they want to generate enough offense to stay competitive. Defensively, the Kraken have struggled, allowing 3.20 goals per game, which ranks them 24th in the NHL. Their defensive lapses have been a major issue, as they often leave their goaltenders exposed by failing to clear traffic in front of the net and making costly turnovers in the defensive zone. Joey Daccord is expected to start in net for Seattle, carrying a 21-15-3 record with a 2.56 goals-against average (GAA) and a .914 save percentage.

While Daccord has had solid performances throughout the season, he has been let down by the defense in front of him, often facing too many high-danger scoring chances. Against a Minnesota team that thrives on cycling the puck and creating net-front traffic, Seattle’s defense will need to be much sharper if they hope to limit the Wild’s offensive attack. Seattle’s special teams have also been a weak point, as their power play is converting at just 18.1%, ranking near the bottom of the league. Their inability to capitalize on man-advantage opportunities has cost them valuable points, and they cannot afford to let those chances slip away against a Minnesota team that struggles with penalty killing. The Kraken’s penalty kill has been slightly better, but it will need to be at its best to prevent Minnesota’s top line from finding scoring opportunities. From a betting perspective, the Kraken have been one of the worst teams against the spread (ATS) on the road, failing to cover in seven of their last eight games following a home win. Their struggles in away games have been a major reason for their disappointing season, as they have not been able to replicate their home performances when traveling. Historically, they have also struggled against Minnesota, losing multiple first-period battles and often finding themselves playing from behind early. To pull off an upset, Seattle will need to play disciplined hockey, avoid defensive breakdowns, and find a way to generate consistent offensive pressure. If they can capitalize on Minnesota’s weak penalty kill and get strong goaltending from Daccord, they have a chance to stay competitive. However, if they fall into their usual pattern of slow starts and defensive lapses, it could be another long night against a Wild team that is looking to solidify its playoff position. The Kraken will need to bring their best effort to have any hope of escaping Minnesota with a much-needed victory.