The Seattle Kraken (21-15-8) and New Jersey Devils (23-21-2) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EST at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Devils are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 5.5 (-132o / +110u). The Devils are a -150 favorite to win outright, while the Kraken are +125 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Kraken vs. Devils predictions and NHL picks.
Kraken vs. Devils Odds, Pick
| Kraken Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -200 | 5.5 -132o / +110u | +125 |
| Devils Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +165 | 5.5 -132o / +110u | -150 |
- Kraken vs. Devils Spread: Devils -1.5 (+165 ), Kraken +1.5 (-200)
- Kraken vs. Devils Over/Under: 5.5 (-132o / +110u)
- Kraken vs. Devils Moneyline: Kraken +125, Devils -150
Kraken vs. Devils Preview
Seattle Kraken
Is Seattle legit? In the past 10 games, the Kraken have gone 7-1-2 with points in six of the seven games played in the month of January.
I’ve been a consistent critic of how this roster is built and Lane Lambert’s coaching tactics, but the wins make me second-guess my thoughts.
And then I look at their 5-on-5 numbers and I realize that I’m not going totally insane.
Let’s be clear here. The wins matter and the Kraken have been on an impressive run. Not just that, it seems like the addition of youngster Berkly Catton has invigorated the boys. Additionally, captain Jordan Eberle has taken it upon himself to be the driving force of this team – posting six goals and nine points since December 22.
But I don’t foresee what Seattle is doing here as sustainable. It’s gotten fantastic goaltending from Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer, but how much can we trust Grubauer – who’s been a gong show since arriving in the PNW?
Offensively, the Kraken are driving play at a ninth-worst 46.86 xGF% since January 1, and on the defensive end, a seventh-worst 3.17 xGA/60.
Their power play has been fantastic this season, but the penalty kill is performing at a league-worst rate of 71.4%, which is even worse considering they take the fifth-least penalties.
New Jersey Devils
Now, onto the Devils, who haven’t been much of a prized asset.
The year 2026 hasn’t been very kind to them, as last week, they were outscored 16-2, including a devastating 9-0 loss to the Islanders.
There’s a white-hot light beaming on coach Sheldon Keefe, who was supposed to get this team to be a perennial contender. But with poor 5-on-5 play, a lacking penalty kill, and abhorrent goaltending, that light continues to get brighter.
New Jersey bounced back from its destructive week after defeating the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul by the score of 5-2 on Monday, so it’ll be interesting to see how it responds after a win.
Having Jack Hughes back from injury certainly helps and Jesper Bratt seems to be gaining some momentum, but can they sustain it?
Well, it truly depends on goaltending, and Jacob Markstrom has been a total disaster this season, that it’s gotten to the point where Jake Allen is the more reliable netminder. With Markstrom playing against Minnesota, I would expect Allen to take the crease tonight.
Kraken vs. Devils Prediction
This game is pretty much a pick ‘em for me, and because I’m so bearish on both of these teams, I’m opting for a player prop.
I talked about Eberle being one of Seattle’s more efficient players as of late, and it’s not just puck luck. He’s putting himself in position to score at a high level, and with how poorly New Jersey has been, I’m putting my faith in him.
Let’s break down the numbers, shall we?
Currently, Eberle leads the team in all high-danger categories over this 10-game stretch. He’s attempted six high danger shots, while leading the team in high danger expected goals.
Additionally, he also leads the team in goals above expected, as well as expected goals.
So we’re going to do this a few different ways. For me, I’m putting money behind an Eberle anytime goal, but feel free to back him notching a point or exceeding his shot prop.
Or, we can even parlay it like the quickslip below! For me, I'm sprinkling a little bit of each here and attempting to catch lightning in a bottle.
Have a party.
Pick: Jordan Eberle Anytime Goal Scorer (+230, .2u) | Jordan Eberle Over 0.5 Points (+110, .2u) | Jordan Eberle Over 1.5 Shots (-150, .5u) | 3-Leg Parlay: +1055 (.1u)
