Vegas vs Seattle Prediction
🔊 Vegas have the luxury of choosing their playoff opponent; they could clash with Seattle and then face the Utah Mammoth in the first round. Alternatively, they might adjust their strategy and let the Edmonton Oilers advance, likely securing a less formidable opponent. Which path will Vegas choose for the upcoming game? Let's delve into the statistical trends to offer an insightful prediction for this NHL regular season match.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the past three seasons, Vegas and Seattle have faced off ten times, splitting the victories with five wins each. The Kraken enter their next head-to-head clash riding a three-game winning streak this season (2-1 OT, 3-2, and 4-3 SO). At home, the Golden Knights have secured regulation victories in 5 of their last 6 encounters against this opponent.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Vegas Golden Knights Team Overview
With a commanding 6-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, Vegas extended their point streak to nine games. The last time the Knights lost in regulation was three weeks ago. Vegas currently leads the Pacific Division. Securing at least one point in their upcoming game will guarantee them the division title and a first-round matchup against the Utah Mammoth. A regulation loss, however, could drop them to second place in the division, setting up a clash with either the Anaheim Ducks or the Los Angeles Kings.
John Tortorella's team has been formidable at home, winning three consecutive games and earning points in five straight outings. Since the February Olympic break, Vegas has been prolific at T-Mobile Arena, averaging 3.36 goals per game (the second-best in the conference) while allowing 2.82 goals (sixth-best in the conference).
The Golden Knights' injury list still includes defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and forward William Karlsson.
Match Results: Vegas Golden Knights
Seattle Kraken Team Overview
Seattle are set to finish sixth in the Pacific Division and 13th in the Western Conference. Lane Lambert's squad have dropped 7 of their last 9 games, managing just one regulation win in their last 14 outings-against the Calgary Flames (4-1).
On the road, the Kraken have suffered four consecutive losses, failing to put up significant scoring numbers in any of those contests. They've fallen to the Buffalo Sabres (2-3 SO), Edmonton Oilers (0-3), Winnipeg Jets (2-6), and Minnesota Wild (2-5). Since the season resumed, Seattle's road game performance has been bleak, averaging 2.18 goals scored (the league's worst) and 3.82 goals conceded (13th in the conference) per game.
For the season finale, there is a possibility that goaltenders Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord, along with forward Shane Wright, might return to action. However, goaltender Matt Murray and forward Jared McCann remain on the long-term injury list.
Match Results: Seattle Kraken
⚡️ Key Players
The leading forces in Vegas' attack are top scorer Jack Eichel with 88 points (27 goals, 61 assists), the team's top goal-scorer Pavel Dorofeyev with 37 goals, and second-leading scorer and playmaker Mitchell Marner with 79 points (23 goals, 56 assists). Eichel, Dorofeyev, and Mark Stone have all registered points in each of the last three games.
For the Kraken, Jordan Eberle (55 points, 26 goals, 29 assists) and Matty Beniers (50 points, 20 goals, 30 assists) have been the most productive this season. Bobby McMann leads Seattle with 29 goals, while Chandler Stephenson and Vince Dunn share the title of top playmaker with 33 assists each.
🥅 Goalies
Since the February break, Adin Hill has shouldered the main goaltending duties for Vegas, appearing in 15 games with a save percentage of 87.1% and a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.87. Recently, he's been on the bench more frequently, playing only once in April. Under new coach Tortorella, Carter Hart has seen more action and hasn't disappointed, boasting a 92.5% save percentage and a GAA of 1.80 over five games.
Seattle faces challenges in their goaltending lineup. With Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord injured, 22-year-old Finn Niklas Kokko has stepped in for the last two matches, having only played one NHL game prior to this week. The current backup, Swede Viktor Eastman, has the same limited experience. Kokko recorded a 91.1% save percentage with a GAA of 2.55 over two games. Grubauer's stats are noticeably lower at an 89.2% save percentage and a GAA of 3.14.
Editorial Prediction
It's hard to believe that Vegas, as suggested at the beginning of this prediction, would deliberately choose their first-round opponent and adjust their play accordingly. However, the Golden Knights' coaching staff might make some strategic changes, possibly giving Carter Hart and some key players a rest. Even at full strength, Seattle often puts up a tough fight in head-to-head matchups, having lost by more than two goals only once in their last nine games against Vegas. Potential lineup changes could impact the game's outcome, so we'll go with Seattle Kraken to win with a +2.5 handicap.
Betting Tips: Vegas Golden Knights - Seattle Kraken
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