Kraken vs Blackhawks Prediction NHL Picks Today 4/8

© Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Game Preview: Blackhawks vs. Kraken - NHL Picks and Predictions

The Chicago Blackhawks are set to take on the Seattle Kraken in a crucial Western Conference matchup, and NHL experts are already offering their picks and predictions for the game. With the playoffs fast approaching, both teams will be looking for a victory to boost their postseason hopes. The Kraken currently sit fourth in the Pacific Division and have been in good form of late, going 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. They have a talented roster, led by defenseman Vince Dunn, who has 13 goals and 50 assists on the season. Oliver Bjorkstrand has also been in fine form, scoring five goals and adding two assists in his last 10 games. The Blackhawks, on the other hand, have struggled this season, sitting in eighth place in the Central Division with a 25-46-6 record. They have lost nine of their last 10 games and will be looking to turn their fortunes around against the Kraken. Taylor Raddysh has been a bright spot for Chicago, with 20 goals and 17 assists on the season. NHL picks and parlays experts are split on this matchup, with some favoring the Kraken due to their recent form and home-ice advantage. However, Computer NHL picks are leaning towards the Blackhawks, who have a solid record in games in which they score three or more goals. No matter which side you back, this promises to be an intriguing matchup between two teams with everything to play for. NHL picks for today and NHL predictions today are likely to focus heavily on this game, with plenty of value to be found in the betting markets. If you're looking for the best NHL bets today, be sure to check out the latest odds and analysis from NHL experts picks today. With the playoffs looming, every game is crucial, and the Blackhawks and Kraken will be leaving it all on the ice in what promises to be a thrilling matchup.

Blackhawks: Offensive Analysis

The Chicago Blackhawks are coming into this game with a record of 25-46-6, which puts them at the bottom of the Central Division. The team has struggled all season to generate offense, with an average of just 2.3 goals per game. They currently rank 29th in the NHL in goals scored, which is not a good sign against a strong Seattle Kraken defense. The Blackhawks have failed to score more than three goals in nine of their last ten games, which indicates that their offense is in a slump. Without key players Colin Blackwell and Philipp Kurashev, the Blackhawks will have a hard time creating opportunities against a Kraken defense that has been solid all season. Experts, computers, and EM predictions all favor the Kraken in this matchup, and it's not hard to see why. The Blackhawks have struggled to score all season and are now playing against a team with a +33 scoring differential. If the Blackhawks want to have any chance of winning this game, they need to step up their offensive game. This means taking more shots, creating more scoring chances, and capitalizing on their opportunities. However, with the Kraken defense holding strong and the Blackhawks missing key players, it's unlikely that they will be able to generate enough offense to come out on top. In conclusion, while the Blackhawks have shown flashes of offensive brilliance this season, they are heading into this game without much momentum. With the Kraken being a strong team at home, and the Blackhawks missing key players, their offensive struggles will likely continue. It's best to steer clear of any nhl picks and parlays favoring the Blackhawks for this game, as the best nhl bets today are on the Kraken.

Blackhawks: Defensive Analysis

The Chicago Blackhawks are coming into this game with a 25-46-6 record, which places them in 8th position in the Central Division. The team's performance in the past ten games has been extremely poor, winning only one game out of ten. The team has been giving up an average of 3.7 goals per game, while scoring only 1.7 goals themselves. With such a weak performance in their previous games, the team's defense will need to step up and perform better in this upcoming match. The Blackhawks will be looking to improve in their defensive game, especially against a strong offensive team like the Seattle Kraken. The team will have to focus on their transition play and avoid turnovers in the neutral zone. They will also need to maintain their defensive zone structure and avoid allowing the Kraken's forwards to get behind their defense. The key players in the Blackhawks' defensive game will be their defenseman Connor Murphy and Nikita Zadorov. These players will have to play tough against the Kraken's top forwards and use their size and strength to clear the front of the net. The Blackhawks' goaltending will also be crucial in this game, and Kevin Lankinen will have to come up with a big performance to keep his team in the game. In conclusion, for the Blackhawks to have a chance in this game, they will have to focus on their defensive game and limit the Kraken's offense. With their poor performance in previous games, the team will need to step up and show their defensive skills against a strong opponent like the Kraken. If the team's defense can keep the game close and give their offense a chance, they may be able to come out with a win.

Kraken: Offense Analysis

The Seattle Kraken are heading into their matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks with a strong offensive record this season. Led by forward Vince Dunn and his 13 goals and 50 assists, the Kraken have scored a total of 272 goals this season, giving them a solid scoring differential of +33. With a 6-3-1 record in their last 10 games, the Kraken have been averaging 3.8 goals per game and 5.9 assists, making them a serious threat to any opponent. Not only do the Kraken have impressive offensive players, they also have the support of NHL picks experts and NHL computer predictions for this game. Many NHL today experts and nhl picks and parlay sites are predicting a strong showing from the Kraken's offense against the struggling Blackhawks. In contrast, the Blackhawks have had a disappointing season, with a 25-46-6 record overall and a poor record on the road. They have also struggled to score, averaging only 1.7 goals per game in their last 10 games. This makes them unlikely to conquer against the Kraken's strong offense, even if they were able to win in their previous matchup. Overall, the Kraken are expected to dominate in offense during this game, making them the best nhl picks and nhl experts picks today. With a solid offensive record and strong NHL picks and parlays predictions, the Kraken are the clear choice for the best nhl bets today.

Kraken: Defensive Analysis

The Seattle Kraken are set to face off against the Chicago Blackhawks in Western Conference play. The Kraken have had a solid defensive season, conceding 239 goals while scoring 272 for a +33 scoring differential. Here's a breakdown of their defensive strengths and weaknesses. Strengths: - Goaltending: One of the biggest strengths of the Kraken's defense is their goaltending duo of Philipp Grubauer and Chris Driedger. Grubauer has a .917 save percentage and 2.35 goals-against average while Driedger has a .927 save percentage and 2.08 goals-against average. They have been a key factor in the Kraken's success this season. - Penalty kill: The Kraken have a solid penalty kill, ranking 10th in the NHL with an 82.9% success rate. They have allowed 36 power-play goals while shorthanded 206 times. - Shot-blocking: The Kraken have blocked 1096 shots this season, putting them in the top 10 in the NHL. Weaknesses: - Defensive turnovers: The Kraken have given up a significant number of turnovers in the defensive zone, leading to scoring chances for the opposition. They will need to clean up their turnovers against the Blackhawks. - Physicality: The Kraken rank in the bottom half of the league in hits per game, which can leave them vulnerable in certain physical matchups. They will need to play a more physical game against the Blackhawks to disrupt their offensive flow. Overall, the Kraken's defense has been strong this season and their goaltenders have been key to their success. They will need to tighten up defensively and play a more physical game against the Blackhawks to come away with a victory in this matchup. If they can continue their solid penalty kill and shot-blocking, the Kraken can limit the offensive opportunities for the Blackhawks and come out on top.

Injury Report

The Seattle Kraken will be without Joonas Donskoi due to an upper-body injury, while John Hayden is out for the season with a lower body injury, and Andre Burakovsky is also out with a lower-body injury. For the Chicago Blackhawks, Colin Blackwell is out for the season with a groin injury, Philipp Kurashev is out with a shoulder injury, and Cole Guttman is also out for the season with a shoulder injury. These injuries could have an impact on the game, but both teams have been dealing with injuries all season and have had to adapt. It will be a matter of which team can overcome these injuries and come out on top. NHL picks experts, computer predictions, and EM predictions will certainly take note of these injuries when making their NHL picks and parlays. As always, it's important to check for any updates on these injuries closer to game time, as more information may become available that could affect the outcome of the game. 

Prediction: