New Jersey Devils (11-10-1) vs. Seattle Kraken (8-12-6)
New Jersey Devils vs. Seattle Kraken 12/7/23 – The New Jersey Devils (11-10-1) face off against the Seattle Kraken (8-12-6) on Thursday night in an inter-conference clash. Both teams come into this matchup struggling for consistency, with the Devils losing three of their last five while the Kraken have dropped four of five. Free hockey tips suggest backing the hotter offense and stronger goaltending.
Led by center Jack Hughes and his 9-21-30 stat line, New Jersey boasts decent offensive depth behind the playmaking prowess of Jesper Bratt and scoring touch of Tyler Toffoli. However, the Devils allow 3.49 goals per game and have question marks in net if Vitek Vanecek falters. Seattle fields a well-balanced attack with four players notching at least 17 points, Vince Dunn’s blue line playmaking, and Oliver Bjorkstrand’s sharpshooting. If Philipp Grubauer can channel last year’s performance, the Kraken should test Jersey’s porous defense.
Jared McCann’s team-leading 12 goals spearhead a Seattle offense that averages 3.35 scores per contest, right in line with NHL norms. New Jersey allows the league’s fifth-most goals against, largely due to shaky netminding and 114 penalties taken. Grubauer performed well last season but has struggled mightily in 2022-23, fueling a Kraken defense that bleeds 34.8 shots per game. The Devils offense runs hot and cold, either exploding for five-plus goals or getting blanked completely. This matchup comes down to the goaltenders.
New Jersey Devils vs. Seattle Kraken Game Info
| When: | Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 10:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Climate Pledge Arena |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Vitek Vanecek vs. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer
While boasting decent rate stats, Vitek Vanecek’s 3.49 goals-against average reflects the Devils’ defensive struggles. New Jersey allows the fourth-most high-danger chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five, suggesting the team hangs its goalies out to dry. Vanecek faces plenty of rubber on a nightly basis but makes the stops when needed, backstopping the NHL’s 11th-ranked offense. Seattle unleashes tons of shots with solid finishing talent, a dangerous combo versus leaky Jersey.
Former Vezina Trophy finalist Philipp Grubauer has not played anywhere close to that level this season, costing the Kraken games with his .883 save percentage. Grubauer struggles with rebounds and high-danger saves, two areas this opportunistic Devils group typically punishes. New Jersey takes the fifth-most shots per game and features three 20-point scorers, including two snipers in Toffoli and Bratt. The Devils offense should feast on Grubauer’s generosity.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD
The betting odds for this game, still to be determined, are expected to reflect the close nature of the matchup. Bettors should watch for the puckline and moneyline, which will offer insights into how the odds makers view the game’s potential outcome.
New Jersey Devils Betting Trends
The Devils enter Thursday’s matchup on an impressive 4-1 run over their last five contests. However, they have struggled against the spread recently with a 2-3 record versus the number in that same span. Jersey also battles on the road this season, posting a pedestrian 4-6 against the spread record away from home. On the totals front, goals have been flying when the Devils take the ice. Five of New Jersey’s previous five games have topped the total, which aligns with their overall trends.
Seattle Kraken Betting Trends
Meanwhile, the Kraken limp into Thursday’s showdown with just one win over their previous five outings. That difficult stretch also produced struggles against the spread for Seattle, who owns a 1-4 mark versus the number over those contests. The Kraken protect home ice well, however, boasting an impressive 10-5 record when welcoming visitors to Climate Pledge Arena. Totals have been a mixed bag recently for Seattle, with only two of their past five games hitting the over.
New Jersey Devils vs. Seattle Kraken 12/7/23 Betting Picks
Considering the current form and betting trends, this game appears to be closely contested. The offensive capabilities of both teams, coupled with the challenges faced by their goaltenders, suggest a game that could be high-scoring and unpredictable.
For elite game analysis, the focus would likely be on the Kraken’s ability to leverage their home advantage against the Devils’ slightly superior season performance. Prop bets on individual performances, especially on team leaders, and the over/under bets could provide interesting opportunities, given the trends towards higher-scoring games for both teams.
Free Pick and Prediction: New Jersey Devils 4, Seattle Kraken 3