Minnesota Wild vs Seattle Kraken Prediction NHL 03/27

© Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Kraken vs. Wild - NHL Game Preview - March 27, 2023 | Kraken play the Wild after Tolvanen's 2-goal performance

As the NHL season winds down, the Seattle Kraken (40-24-8) and Minnesota Wild (42-22-9) face off in a crucial game for both teams. The Wild currently sit atop the Central Division, while the Kraken are fighting for playoff position in the Pacific Division. Expert NHL picks and predictions indicate that this game could be a close one. The Kraken are coming off a dominant 7-2 win against the Nashville Predators, with Eeli Tolvanen scoring two goals. However, the Wild have been on a hot streak, going 6-1-3 in their last ten games and averaging 3.7 goals per game. Computer NHL picks and predictions also favor a competitive game, with both teams boasting talented rosters. Mats Zuccarello leads the Wild with 22 goals and 42 assists, while Jared McCann has been a standout player for the Kraken with 35 goals and 24 assists. Em predictions and nhl today experts have also weighed in, with many pointing to the importance of special teams in this game. The Wild are 20-9-1 in games where they score at least one power play goal, while the Kraken are 17-6-3 in games where they score a power play goal. NHL picks and parlay options are also popular among fans and bettors, with the game's odds and spreads currently up for debate. The Kraken and Wild have only met twice this season, with the Kraken winning the last matchup 4-0. However, with the Wild's recent success and the Kraken fighting for a playoff spot, anything could happen in this game. Overall, this game has the potential to be a thrilling matchup between two talented teams. NHL experts picks today suggest that fans should tune in to see how it all plays out.

Kraken: Offensive Analysis

The Seattle Kraken's offensive game has been hit or miss this season, with inconsistent performances from their star players. However, with a recent 7-2 win against the Nashville Predators, the Kraken showed their potential to dominate on the offensive end. Eeli Tolvanen's two-goal performance was a testament to the team's capability to score quickly and efficiently. It is important to note that the Kraken's success in this game could heavily rely on their ability to score on power plays. The team is 17-6-3 when scoring a power-play goal, indicating that their offensive strategy should focus on capitalizing on every opportunity. With the Wild currently sitting in first place in the Central Division, the Kraken will have to step up their offensive game to clinch a victory. However, with Jared McCann leading the team with 35 goals and 24 assists, and Vince Dunn contributing two goals and 11 assists over the past 10 games, the Kraken have the potential to pull off an upset. While computer models and NHL picks experts may not favor the Kraken in this matchup, the team's offensive potential should not be overlooked. If the Kraken can continue to build on their recent success and maintain their focus on power plays, they have a fighting chance to take down the top-ranked Wild.

Kraken: Defensive Analysis

The Seattle Kraken have had a solid defensive season, allowing an average of 2.56 goals per game, which ranks them fifth in the league. Their blue line has been anchored by Jared McCann, who has a plus/minus rating of +23, indicating his strong defensive play. In terms of penalty killing, the Kraken are ranked 11th in the league, successfully killing off 81.1% of their penalties. Their success on the penalty kill can largely be attributed to their goaltending tandem of Philipp Grubauer and Chris Driedger, who have combined for a save percentage of .914. However, the Kraken's defense will face a tough test against the high-powered offense of the Minnesota Wild, who are ranked sixth in the league in goals per game. The Kraken will need to continue their strong penalty-killing and rely on their goaltending to limit the Wild's scoring opportunities. Injuries to key players like Joonas Donskoi and Andre Burakovsky will also put added pressure on the Kraken's defense. They will need to rely on their depth players to step up and fill in the gaps. Overall, the Kraken will need to play a disciplined and structured game on defense to come away with a win against the Wild. Their success will largely depend on their ability to limit the Wild's scoring chances and capitalize on their own opportunities.

Wild: Offense Analysis

The Minnesota Wild have been on a roll lately, winning six out of their last ten games and averaging 3.7 goals per game during that span. They have a potent offense that can score in a variety of ways, including through their power play, which they convert at a rate of 20-9-1 in games they score a goal with a man advantage. However, they will be facing a tough opponent in the Seattle Kraken, who have a solid record on the road and have been scoring at a rate of 3.6 goals per game in their last ten outings. The Kraken have several top performers in Jared McCann and Vince Dunn, who have been producing consistently over the past few games. When analyzing the NHL picks experts, nhl picks computer, and nhl picks em predictions, it is clear that this game could go either way. Both teams have key players on their rosters, making it difficult to determine who the best nhl bets today are. That being said, the Wild have the advantage of playing at home, where they have a record of 23-11-3, and will have the support of their fans. In terms of nhl picks and parlay, it may be wise to consider the Wild with the spread, as they have been performing well lately and have several players who can create scoring opportunities. Overall, the Wild offense will need to remain focused and disciplined to secure a win against the Kraken. If they can continue to score at an impressive rate and convert on their power plays, they will likely come out on top. But with the Kraken playing well on the road, this game could prove to be a close and exciting matchup.

Wild: Defensive Analysis

The Minnesota Wild have been dominant on both sides of the ice this season, boasting a record of 42-22-9 and sitting comfortably atop the Central Division. Their success has been largely due to their strong defensive play, which will be crucial in their matchup against the Seattle Kraken on March 27, 2023. The Wild's defensive unit is anchored by veteran defenseman Ryan Suter, who leads the team in average ice time with 24:23 per game. Suter is a reliable presence on the blue line and is complemented by the physical play of Jonas Brodin and the offensive prowess of Matt Dumba. In addition to their skilled defensemen, the Wild have a strong goaltending tandem in Cam Talbot and Kaapo Kahkonen. Talbot has started the majority of the games this season and has a save percentage of .916, while Kahkonen has been solid in his limited appearances. The Wild's penalty kill has also been a strength this season, ranking sixth in the league with an 83.4% success rate. This will be important against a Seattle team that has been successful on the power play, with a 17-6-3 record when scoring with the man advantage. Overall, the Wild's strong defensive play will be a key factor in their matchup against the Kraken. They will need to continue to limit scoring opportunities and shut down the Kraken's power play to come out on top. NHL picks experts and computer nhl picks and parlays are likely to favor the Wild in this defensive battle.

Injury Report

As the Seattle Kraken take on the Minnesota Wild, both teams have a few key players dealing with injuries. For the Wild, Gustav Nyquist is out with a shoulder injury, while Kirill Kaprizov is out with a lower body injury. John Klingberg is also listed as day to day with an upper body injury. As for the Kraken, Philipp Grubauer is day to day with an illness, Joonas Donskoi is out with an upper-body injury, John Hayden is out for the season with a lower body injury, and Andre Burakovsky is out with a lower-body injury. These injuries may impact the game and could lead to changes in the lineups for both teams. When making NHL picks, it's important to keep an eye on the injury report to help inform your predictions. 

Kraken vs. Wild Prediction:

Can Eeli Tolvanen's hot hand lead Seattle to an upset over Minnesota? The Wild have been dominant at home this season, but the Kraken have been a solid road team. With both teams missing key players due to injury, it may come down to which team's depth can step up. The Kraken could pull off a surprise victory if Tolvanen continues his scoring streak and the Seattle power play clicks. However, the Wild's balanced attack and strong special teams make them the safer pick.

Pick: Wild (-150)