Minnesota Wild (9-10-4) vs. Seattle Kraken (8-12-6)
Minnesota Wild vs. Seattle Kraken 12/10/23 – The Minnesota Wild take on the Seattle Kraken on Sunday night in a matchup of Central division foes. The Wild are struggling after a promising start while the expansion Kraken are still trying to find their way in their second NHL season. This promises to be a competitive game between two teams hungry for a win. Fans and bettors alike are looking forward to this game, especially those interested in free NHL parlay picks.
The Wild boast a dangerous first line led by Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. Kaprizov is a dynamic goal scorer while Zuccarello is a crafty playmaker. They could give the Kraken defense trouble. However, the Wild offense as a whole has sputtered of late. Seattle has struggled defensively but has played better on home ice. If they can limit Minnesota’s top players, they could keep this game low-scoring.
The Kraken offense runs through Andre Burakovsky and Oliver Bjorkstrand. Burakovsky is coming off a career-best season while Bjorkstrand is a consistent secondary scorer. However, Seattle lacks depth up front which could be an issue against a decent Minnesota defense. The Wild have struggled to keep pucks out of their net so the Kraken need to take advantage of any chances they get to flip the script at home.
Minnesota Wild vs. Seattle Kraken Game Info
| When: | Sunday, December 10, 2023, at 9:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Climate Pledge Arena |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Filip Gustavsson vs. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer
Wild netminder Filip Gustavsson has taken over as starter with Marc-Andre Fleury struggling. Gustavsson has posted a .894 save percentage through 14 starts, leaving plenty to be desired. However, the Kraken offense has had trouble finishing chances, ranking near the bottom of the league in goals per game. If Gustavsson can make the key save, Minnesota’s offense could bail him out.
Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer is in the first year of a lucrative contract but has failed to live up to expectations. He owns an ugly .883 save percentage through 15 starts. And if he couldn’t contain the Kraken’s harmless offense, there’s legitimate reason to worry against the dangerous Wild first line. Minnesota needs to attack Grubauer early and often to take control on the road.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
The betting odds for this game are yet to be determined, but they will undoubtedly reflect the close matchup between these two teams. Bettors will need to consider the recent performances, the offensive and defensive strengths of both teams, and the goaltenders’ form when placing their bets.
Minnesota Wild Betting Trends
The Wild hit their stride in mid-November but have just one win over their past nine contests coming into Sunday night’s inter-conference clash. However, they’ve generally outplayed opponents during this stretch. Improved puck luck could lead to an explosion from Minnesota’s dangerous attack. Expect them to push the pace against Seattle.
Seattle Kraken Betting Trends
After a feel-good 4-game winning streak in mid-November, the Kraken have predictably regressed towards the mean recently. Their roster still has too many holes to expect extended success. However, Seattle has played respectsably on home ice this season despite its lackluster record. This could be a letdown spot for the road-weary Wild.
Minnesota Wild vs. Seattle Kraken 12/10/23 Betting Picks
Based on the analysis and betting trends, this game is poised to be a closely contested affair. The Wild’s slightly better road record against the spread and the Kraken’s tendency to perform well at home make this matchup unpredictable.
For bettors, the key would be to look at the individual matchups, especially the performance of the goaltenders. The Wild might have a slight edge due to their offensive capabilities, but the Kraken’s resilience at home cannot be underestimated. In terms of prop bets, looking at individual player performances like Zuccarello or McCann could be fruitful. The over/under will depend heavily on the goaltenders’ form on game day.
Expert premium predictions suggest a tightly contested game, possibly going into overtime. The final score might lean slightly in favor of the Minnesota Wild, considering their slightly more consistent performance in recent games.
Free Pick and Prediction: Minnesota Wild 3, Seattle Kraken 2