Seattle Kraken - Vegas Golden Knights predictions and free betting tips [01/01/2024]

Within the Winter Classic framework in the regular NHL Championship, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Seattle Kraken will face off at the T-Mobile Arena. This game will be the 39th outdoor match since the Edmonton vs Montreal game in 2003.

Seattle Kraken

The Seattle Kraken have marked four victories in a row and are on a success wave with a franchise-record series of 8 games (6-0-2), the last of which was a victory over the Philadelphia Flyers with a score of 2:1 in overtime. In this match, the key moment was the goal by Justin Schultz that led the team to victory. The Kraken have demonstrated strong defence, conceding only 5 goals in the last 4 games. Vince Dunn, who has scored 6 goals and delivered 24 assists this season, has contributed significantly to the team's success. Seattle also showcased their strength by defeating Calgary, Anaheim, and Los Angeles in their win streak.

In their last match against Philadelphia, the Kraken successfully outshot their opponents with a total score of 29-28 and executed one of two powerplay goals. The team's season averages are 2.65 goals per game and 2.97 goals allowed per game, with 20.9% powerplay efficiency and 79.6% penalty kill efficiency. Goalie play has also been a significant factor in Seattle’s success, where Joey Daccord has shown good results with an 8-5-8 record, an average of 2.46 goals allowed, and a save percentage of .915. Despite their recent success, the Kraken continue to struggle with the aftermath of 11 consecutive losses, acting as home underdogs after their victory.

Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas, with a record of 22-10-5, broke a streak of four losses, defeating the Los Angeles Kings with a score of 3:2. In this match, goalie Logan Thompson made 32 saves, and Jack Eichel, Michael Amadio, and William Karlsson each scored a goal, showing stability in attack. However, recent games have exposed the team's defensive issues, especially in the match against Anaheim Ducks, where conceded goals led to their defeat. On average, the Golden Knights concede 3.32 goals per game, ranking 9th in the league in defence.

Vegas's main strength this season is their attack, scoring an average of 3.32 goals per game. Key players such as Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and William Karlsson have scored 43 goals and made 66 assists. Other key forwards, including Jonathan Marchessault, Ivan Barbashev, and Chandler Stephenson, also show good results, making a strong goal contribution to the team's attack. They are assisted by defenders Brayden McNabb and Alex Pietrangelo with 3 goals and 29 points. Logan Thompson, who will likely be Vegas's starting goalie, has a 11-6-3 record and a save percentage of .902, underscoring his importance to the team.

Head-to-head 

In the last 5 matches, Vegas has 4 wins, almost all emphatic, including the last match on 11 October with a score of 4:1, previously they had 2 victories of 3:1 and again 4:1.

Prediction for the match Seattle Kraken - Vegas Golden Knights

An exciting match within the Pacific Division frame is expected in the upcoming clash between Vegas and Seattle. Vegas, holding the second place in the division with a 22-10-5 record, shows an unimpressive form, but still maintains good offense, with an average of 3.32 goals per game. Nonetheless, Seattle, ranking fourth with 14-14-9, also shows good results, winning their last 4 games in a row. Considering these factors, bookies have laid the line in favor of Vegas, due to their strong attack and high position in the standings. However, considering Kraken's recent form and their enhancement in defence, I would try a handicap bet on the Kraken (+1).