The Seattle Kraken embark on a five-game road trip, starting tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET. This matchup presents a clash between two teams trending in opposite directions, adding intrigue to the contest.
The Hurricanes enter the game riding a three-game winning streak, averaging an impressive 4.7 goals per game during this run, while only allowing 2 goals per game. Their most recent victory was a 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on January 8th, showcasing their offensive firepower. Jalen Chatfield and Taylor Hall each contributed a goal and an assist in that game. Carolina has been dominant at home, with the oddsmakers giving them a 74.4% chance of winning. As a favorite, Carolina holds a 26-13 record this season. However, the Hurricanes have a few players on injured reserve, including D Charles-Alexis Legault, D Jaccob Slavin and G Pyotr Kochetkov.
The Kraken, on the other hand, had their five-game winning streak snapped in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild on January 8th. Despite the loss, they still possess a ten-game point streak, demonstrating their resilience. During this stretch, the Kraken have been averaging 3.8 goals per game while conceding 2.1 goals per game. Against the Wild, Vince Dunn had two assists. Seattle has been strong offensively, scoring 38 goals in their last 10 games. However, they've allowed 11 goals in the past four games. The Kraken have struggled as underdogs this season, but have still managed to win 17 of 37 games in that role. Key players for the Kraken are on the injury list, including G Matt Murray, F Jaden Schwartz and D Brandon Montour, and F Jordan Eberle is day-to-day.
Looking at past matchups, the Kraken won the last game against the Hurricanes with a 4-2 scoreline at the PNC Arena. However, the Hurricanes have won five of the previous eight encounters between the two teams. In their prior matchups last season, Seth Jarvis had a goal and an assist in one of the two games against the Kraken, while Matty Beniers had three assists in two games against the Hurricanes.
Computer models predict a close game, with one suggesting a 4-3 victory for the Hurricanes. The model also projects the total goals to be over 6.5.
With both teams showcasing strong offensive capabilities, this game has the potential to be a high-scoring affair. The Hurricanes' strong home record and recent form make them the favorites, but the Kraken's point streak and offensive firepower suggest they will be a challenging opponent.
