Eeli Tolvanen is forced to carry the load for the Kraken with Matty Beniers and Oliver Bjorkstrand absent from the lineup
The Blackhawks travel to the Emerald City to take on the Kraken who ride a four game losing streak. The Hawks slew of injuries has them entering tonight’s matchups with a 14-31-2 record that is 17 points behind the Kraken, who are 19-8-9 on the season. The Blackhawks are without young star Connor Bedard, who has a fractured jaw. The Kraken are also missing key players in forwards Matty Beniers and Oliver Bjorkstrand, who are both out and will hinder how they roll their offense.
It should be a close game with the Blackhawks searching for something positive and the Kraken looking to end their four game losing streak. This game may not be the most eye-catching on the slate but if you want to add some tension to this matchup, here is our best bets for tonight’s matchup that should help you win some cash.
All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Please gamble responsibly.
Pick: Eeli Tolvanen over 0.5 points (-140)
The Kraken are missing one of their top two point-scorers with Bjorkstrand being absent due to personal reasons. He’s dished for eight assists in his past ten games and with him out of the lineup, it will put more attention on top goal-scorer Jared McCann and Bjorkstrand’s linemate Eeli Tolvanen.
McCann has scored four goals in the past 10 games, and Tolvanen is tied for second on the team in goals alongside Bjorkstrand with 12 on the season. Tolvanen is at better value and should get on the scoresheet against a Blackhawks defense that has improved but the Kraken will be relying on Tolvanen due to all the injuries.
Pick: Under 5.5 goals (-110)
Neither team has been a very prolific scoring team lately, and with Connor Bedard still missing, that’s not likely to change. The Kraken has slowed down a bit as of late with a goals per game average just over three since the start of the new year. The Blackhawks defense has improved lately with an average of 2.70 goals allowed in the past ten games. Hawks expected netminder Petr Mrazek has performed very well lately at a save percentage of .899 in his past 10 games and will try his best to fend off an injury-afflicted Kraken.
On the Kraken’s end, their defense has been good at an average of 2.40 goals allowed in the past 10 games. That, plus the netminders, will help keep the Hawks out and their goals low. Kraken expected starter Joey Daccord has a .941 save percentage in his last 10 games and reps a 2.33 goals against average on the season.