New Jersey Devils vs. Seattle Kraken 12/7/23 – The New Jersey Devils (11-10-1) take on the Seattle Kraken (8-12-6) on Thursday night in a non-conference NHL matchup between two teams heading in opposite directions. The Devils have won four out of their last five contests, while the Kraken have dropped four of their previous five. This game has intriguing betting implications with New Jersey’s recent hot streak and Seattle’s continued struggles. Our NHL betting prediction favors the road team to continue its ascent up the Metropolitan Division standings.
New Jersey Devils vs. Seattle Kraken 12/7/23
When: Thursday, December 7, 10:30 PM ET
Where: Climate Pledge Arena
TV: ESPN
Stream: NHL.TV
New Jersey Devils vs. Seattle Kraken 12/7/23 Betting Odds:
| Team | PUCKLINE | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devils | -1.5 +165 | o6.5 -107 | -152 |  |
| Kraken | +1.5 -190 | u6.5 -109 | +135 | |
| ||||
The Brattman: the hero we deserve. pic.twitter.com/K0ycdRihUx
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) December 6, 2023
Goaltender Vitek Vanecek vs. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer
Vitek Vanecek has provided steady and occasionally spectacular play this season for New Jersey. His .879 save percentage and 3.49 GAA are middling, but he makes big saves when needed. Seattle’s offense shouldn’t threaten too much, especially with forwards Andre Burakovsky and Jaden Schwartz injured. Still, Vanecek must avoid a letdown game for the Devils to grab another win.
Meanwhile, Philipp Grubauer continues to cede time in net to backup Martin Jones because of his poor play. Grubauer’s .883 save percentage is fifth-worst in the NHL among qualified goalies, and his struggles are a microcosm of Seattle’s defensive issues. New Jersey boasts one of the deepest group of forwards in the league, led by centers Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. Expect the Devils to bombard Grubauer with shots.
Red-Hot New Jersey Scorers Face Porous Seattle Defense
The Devils enter Thursday’s contest averaging 3.52 goals per game, good for third-best in the NHL. Forwards Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and offseason acquisition Tyler Toffoli power New Jersey’s dangerous attack. Hughes leads the team with 30 points, while Bratt and Toffoli have 26 and 21 points, respectively. The Devils converted 27.9% of power plays over their past 10 games as well. Seattle allows the sixth-most goals per game at 3.58. Kraken defensemen Adam Larsson and Jamie Oleksiak can’t handle speedy forwards like Hughes and Bratt. New Jersey should light the lamp multiple times against a vulnerable Seattle defense.
Seattle Offense Looks to Break Out Against Devils’ Penalty Kill
On paper, Seattle’s offense contains talent like wingers Andre Burakovsky, Oliver Bjorkstrand and center Jared McCann. However, the Kraken sit 28th in goals per game largely because of special teams struggles. Their power play converts at just 16.7%, fifth-worst in the NHL. New Jersey presents an opportunity for Seattle’s scorers to break out, though. The Devils own the NHL’s worst penalty kill at 64.6%. If players like McCann and Jordan Eberle can take advantage of man-advantage chances, Seattle can keep this game close. At even strength, the Kraken will have difficulty keeping pace with New Jersey’s relentless attack. Still, Seattle’s power play holds the key to staying competitive, despite the team’s overall lack of 5-on-5 success lately.
NHL Betting Odds: TBD
The current betting odds for this game are still to be determined, but they are expected to reflect the close nature of the matchup. The over/under will also be a crucial element, considering the scoring trends of both teams.
Trends
New Jersey Devils Betting Trends
New Jersey Devils are 4-1 in their last 5 games.
Devils are 2-3 in their last 5 games against the spread.
New Jersey Devils are 4-6 in their road games against the spread.
The totals have gone OVER in 5 of Devils’ last 5 games.
The totals have gone OVER in 10 of Devils’ 12 last games at home.
Seattle Kraken Betting Trends
Seattle Kraken are 1-4 in their last 5 games.
Kraken are 1-4 in their last 5 games against the spread.
Seattle Kraken are 10-5 in their road games against the spread.
The totals have gone OVER in 2 of Kraken’ last 5 games.
The totals have gone OVER in 6 of Kraken’ 11 last games at home.
New Jersey Devils vs. Seattle Kraken Betting Picks
Considering the performance and trends of both teams, this game appears to be a closely contested battle. The Devils’ stronger recent form against the Kraken’s potential for upset makes this an intriguing game for bettors.
For the best online sportsbook experience, bettors should consider the Devils’ offensive strength and the Kraken’s capacity to surprise at home. Prop bets on individual performances, particularly the teams’ leading scorers, and the over/under bet might offer interesting opportunities, given the scoring trends of both teams.
Score Prediction: Devils 4, Kraken 3.
