Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Saturday’s matchup between the Seattle Kraken and Edmonton Oilers.
Kraken vs. Oilers Odds
- Seattle Kraken Moneyline: +139
- Edmonton Oilers Moneyline: -155
- Puck Line: Kraken +1.5 (-190), Oilers +1.5 (+166)
- Game Total: 6 (Over +103, Under -116)
Game odds courtesy of Pinnacle.
Handicapping the Kraken (30-40 SU, 34-36 ATS, 33-32-5 O/U)
Seattle continues its four-game road trip Saturday in Edmonton. The Kraken opened with a 6-2 win over Chicago before falling 4-0 to Minnesota in the second half of a back-to-back. With a two-day break before this game, they’ll have a one-day rest advantage over the Oilers.
Seattle sits second-to-last in the Pacific Division at 30-35-5 but remains 20 points ahead of San Jose. The Kraken have won five of their last 10 games but have struggled on the road, going 14-20 this season and losing five of their last seven away from home.
Friday’s practice in Edmonton revealed new line combinations, with Matty Beniers centering Kaapo Kakko and 2022 second-round pick Jani Nyman for the first time. Nyman has impressed with two goals in five games since his debut, while Kakko has seven goals and 16 assists since joining Seattle from the Rangers. Beniers has surpassed last season’s goal and point totals but has yet to regain the form that saw him post 24 goals and 57 points in 2022-23.
On the injury front, forward Chandler Stephenson will be sidelined after suffering an injury Wednesday against Minnesota. In his absence, Shane Wright will move up to play alongside Jaden Schwartz and former Oiler Jordan Eberle. Wright has 17 goals and 23 assists in 67 games during his first full NHL season.
Seattle ranks 29th in expected goals percentage and shot attempt percentage at five-on-five, according to Evolving Hockey, but they’ve been a threat offensively, ranking 14th in goals per 60 minutes across all situations. However, they remain in the bottom 10 in goals against per 60 minutes, and goaltender Joey Daccord has struggled in recent outings.
Handicapping the Oilers (40-29 SU, 25-44 ATS, 31-37-1 O/U)
The Oilers have dominated the Kraken since Seattle joined the league four years ago, winning 11 of 13 meetings. However, Saturday’s matchup will be more evenly contested, as both captain Connor McDavid and Hart Trophy favorite Leon Draisaitl are sidelined for at least a week. This will be the first time that both stars have missed the same game.
Draisaitl leads the NHL in points per game against the Kraken, while McDavid has recorded at least one point in 11 of 13 games against them. Their absence will put Edmonton’s depth to the test. The Oilers got a preview of life without their stars in Thursday’s game against the Jets, where they trailed 3-2 entering the third period but managed to force overtime, outshooting Winnipeg 10-7 in the final frame before falling in OT. Still, assessing Edmonton without its two best players remains difficult.
Adam Henrique will return to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 11, replacing McDavid. According to Daily Faceoff, Henrique will slot into the top-six alongside Jeff Skinner and Zach Hyman. Skinner scored twice on Thursday, while Hyman has three goals in his last two games.
In net, Stuart Skinner is healthy after being pulled by the concussion spotter late in the third period against Winnipeg following a collision. Backup Calvin Pickard finished the game and allowed the overtime winner, ending Edmonton’s three-game win streak.
The Oilers have already beaten the Kraken twice this season, both by a 4-2 score, and have won their last eight meetings against Seattle.
Best Bet for Jets vs. Kraken
Moneyline – Regulation Time – Draw (+324) at Pinnacle
Edmonton is a clear favorite in this matchup, but without McDavid and Draisaitl to do the heavy lifting, the Oilers should find themselves in a tiger game than they otherwise would. After all, Edmonton has scored three or fewer goals in 12 of its last 14 games, and Seattle has just enough firepower to match them in that regard.
