Wild vs. Kraken NHL Predictions, Picks and Odds - Jan. 8

The Minnesota Wild (25-11-8) visit the Seattle Kraken (20-14-7) on Thursday, Jan. 8, with the Wild coming off a loss and the Kraken a win. The sportsbooks have made the Wild solid favorites at -155 on the moneyline, despite being the visitors, and the Kraken are at +130.

Minnesota was handed a 4-2 defeat on the road its last time out on Jan. 5 against the Los Angeles Kings. Jared Spurgeon had two points (one goal and one assist) for the Wild.

Seattle won at home in its most recent game on Jan. 6, 7-4 over the Boston Bruins. Kaapo Kakko's three points (two goals and one assist) in that outing led the Kraken.

To prepare for this matchup, here is who we project to bring home the win in Thursday's hockey game.

Wild vs. Kraken Predictions & Pick

For predictions on the upcoming game between the Minnesota Wild and Seattle Kraken, computer-derived moneyline, over/under, and score predictions are below, per Dunkel Index.

• Prediction: Wild 4 - Kraken 3
• Pick OU: Over 5.5 (Dunkel projecting 7.08 goals)
  

Pick with the best in the business! Get free picks for every game, every week at the Dunkel Index.

Wild vs. Kraken Moneylines

Snag a peek below at the most recent moneylines for the Wild-Kraken matchup.

• Favorite: Wild (-155)
• Underdog: Kraken (+130)

Wild Betting Insights

• The Wild have won 54.2% of their games when they've been a moneyline favorite this season (13-11).
• When it has played with moneyline odds of -155 or shorter, Minnesota is 3-7 (winning 30.0% of the time).
• The Wild have a 60.8% chance (based on the moneyline's implied probability) to win this game.
• Minnesota and its opponent have combined to score more than 5.5 goals in 24 of 44 games this season.

Kraken Betting Insights

• This season the Kraken have been an underdog 36 times, and won 17, or 47.2%, of those games.
• Seattle has a record of 8-11 in games when bookmakers have them as underdogs of at least +130 on the moneyline.
• The Kraken have a 43.5% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• Seattle's games this season have had more than 5.5 goals 18 of 41 times.

Wild Key Stats

• Minnesota has scored the 10th-most goals in the league (137 total, 3.1 per game).
• Defensively, the Wild are one of the stingiest units in NHL action, allowing 116 total goals (2.6 per game) to rank fifth.
• Its +21 goal differential is the fourth-best in the league.
• The 33 power-play goals the Wild have scored this season (on 147 power-play chances) are the fifth-most in the NHL.
• Minnesota ranks 10th in the league with a 22.45% power-play conversion rate.
• The Wild have scored three shorthanded goals this season (13th among NHL squads).
• Minnesota kills 76.92% of opponent power plays, the 26th-ranked penalty-kill percentage in the league.
• Minnesota wins 46.8% of its faceoffs to rank 28th in the NHL.
• The Wild connect on 11% of their shots (14th in the league).

Kraken Key Stats

• Seattle's 114 goals on the season (2.8 per game) rank 27th in the league.
• The Kraken have one of the top defenses in the league, giving up 116 total goals (2.8 per game), fifth in the league.
• Its -2 goal differential ranks 16th in the league.
• The Kraken have 26 power-play goals (14th in NHL) on 119 chances.
• Seattle has the NHL's 12th-ranked power-play percentage (21.85%).
• In terms of shorthanded goal, the Kraken have one.
• At 70.43%, Seattle has the 32nd-ranked penalty-kill percentage in the league.
• Seattle is 29th in faceoff win percentage in the NHL (46.7%).
• The Kraken's 10.7% shooting percentage is 16th in the league.