Seattle Kraken vs New York Islanders: Kraken Try to Take Sole Possession of First Place

• The Seattle Kraken are 3-1-1 in their previous five games.

• The New York Islanders have won their previous two games.

• The Kraken beat the Islanders 4-1 in their first matchup this season.

Seattle Kraken vs New York Islanders Odds

Odds Taken from FanDuel Sportsbook.

Seattle Kraken vs New York Islanders Predictions and Picks

• Seattle Kraken beat New York Islanders 4-3

• Seattle Kraken cover 

• Over 5.5 goals

Head-to-Head: Seattle Kraken vs New York Islanders

Seattle Kraken vs New York Islanders Predictions and Picks

The Seattle Kraken will travel to Long Island to face the New York Islanders. These teams first faced off on January 1, and the Kraken won 4-1. The Seattle defense was on full display as they only allowed 19 Islanders shots.

The Kraken come into this game in first place in the Pacific Division. They have 63 points but could fall one or two spots with a loss. Their opponents, the Islanders, are two spots away from the second Wild Card spot and could inch closer with a win. It is worth mentioning the Islanders have not played their Monday game as I write this.

The Kraken do not have any stars but still have a high-powered offense. Seattle has the fifth-best offense in the NHL and very often scores four goals a game. With that being said, defensively, they could use some work. Seattle allows 3.08 goals per game (just below the league average). Their defense is not the only problem, though. The Kraken’s goaltenders also do not hold up their end of the bargain and both have save percentages under .900.

The Kraken have zero players with 40 points but six (Andre Burakovsky, Jordan Eberle, Matty Beniers, Vince Dunn, Jared McCann, and Yanni Gourde) with 30+. This barrage of points has allowed them to perform well this season and create a well-oiled offense.

Martin Jones is the starting netminder in Seattle. He has 23 wins but is not performing that well. He has an .896 save percentage and will need to step up in the Playoffs.

The Islanders are having a few more problems than the Canucks. They recently traded for goal-scorer Bo Horvat, but their offense will still be below average. New York only scores 2.85 goals per game, putting them in the bottom ten. Defensively, they are excellent, but their offense is too slow and needs to step up.

The Islanders beefed up their offense when they traded for Bo Horvat. That leaves them with three players (Brock Nelson and Mathew Barzal too) with 40+ points. These three must lead the Islanders’ offense in the remaining 30 games.

Ilya Sorokin has been a consistent force in the net for the Islanders. The 27-year-old is tied for the best save percentage in the NHL (.923) and is a brick wall.

The Kraken have a fantastic offense and are playing better hockey, so they will win. Bet on Seattle.

Why Might the Seattle Kraken Win?

The Kraken are the underdogs but can win if they score a power play goal and slow down Brock Nelson. 

The Kraken do not have an excellent power-play unit, but they have a better one than the Islanders. They convert just over 20% of their power plays but have not converted an opportunity in their previous two games. This unit must get on the ice and provide at least one goal. These teams are pretty evenly matched, but a power play goal may be enough for the Kraken to get the victory.

Brock Nelson is the most efficient player on the Kraken. He leads the teams in points (46) and is tied for the most goals (19) with Anders Lee. Nelson is an all-around player for the Islanders, which is why the Kraken defensemen must slow him down and try to take him out of the picture.

Why Might the New York Islanders Win?

The Islanders are the favorites but will win with strong goaltending and tough defense.

The Islanders have an excellent netminder in Ilya Sorokin. However, Sorokin will be facing a Kraken team that averages 3.61 goals per game. As good as he is, he needs to bring his A-game against one of the NHL’s best offenses.

The Islanders’ offense is slow, but their defense is one of the best. They only give up 2.76 goals per game, putting them in the top ten. The Islanders’ defensemen must carry their offense and limit the Kraken to two goals or less.

Kraken Key Players: (LW) Jared McCann 

Jared McCann is a bonafide goal-scorer. The 26-year-old leads the Kraken with 23 goals and converts an absurd 23.7% of his shots. McCann is the third-most efficient shooter in the NHL.

McCann must continue shooting in this game. He has not scored a goal in three games, so this is the time for him to return to form.

Islanders Key Player: (LW) Anders Lee

Anders Lee does not lead the Islanders in points but is tied for the most goals (19) with Brock Nelson. Lee has also scored four goals in his last four games. 

The Kraken defensemen will likely be more focused on Brock Nelson, so Lee will have a few opportunities to score or set up his teammates. He has to take advantage of those opportunities.

How to Watch Seattle Kraken vs New York Islanders

• What: Seattle Kraken vs New York Islanders

• Where: UBS Arena, Elmont, New York

• When: Tuesday, February 7, 7:30 PM EST

• How to Watch: NHLPP, ESPN+