The Seattle Kraken meet the Dallas Stars in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinals playoff series Thursday. The Kraken lead the series 1-0. Puck drop at American Airlines Arena is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT).
The Kraken outlasted the Stars for a 5-4 overtime win Tuesday. Seattle shocked the Stars with 4 goals in the 1st period and didn’t score again until overtime. The Kraken outshot the Stars 44-35 and took home-ice advantage for the series with the victory. RW Jordan Eberle had a goal and an assist as Seattle got tallies from 5 different players. They have now won 3 consecutive road playoff games.
C Joe Pavelski had the game of his life, but it wasn’t enough. Pavelski, 38, became the oldest player to ever record 4 goals in a playoff game. He scored on a wrister, a rebound and 2 ridiculous redirected shots – one he spun around and made contact with the puck in the air, and the other he batted out of the air. The good news for Dallas is they dropped Game 1 in OT in the 1st round and won 4 of the next 5 games.
Kraken at Stars odds
- Moneyline (ML): Kraken +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Stars -210 (bet $210 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Kraken +1.5 (-160) | Stars -1.5 (+135)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +105 | U: -130)
Kraken at Stars projected goalies
Philipp Grubauer (17-14-4, 2.85 GAA, .895 SV%, 0 SO – regular season) vs. Jake Oettinger (37-11-11, 2.37 GAA, .919 SV%, 5 SO – regular season)
Grubauer allowed 4 goals in the series opener, but 2 were on redirections and 1 was a rebound. So he really only allowed a single, natural goal and made 31 saves on 35 shots. The 4 goals are the 2nd-most he has allowed in a game this postseason, where he’s 5-3 with a 2.57 GAA and .921 SV%.
Oettinger looked shell-shocked skating off the ice after the 1st period Tuesday, but he gathered himself masterfully. Until the OT goal went in, he had saved 33 consecutive shots. He was shaky early in the Minnesota series but buckled down. He’s 4-3 with a 2.35 GAA and .921 SV% in these playoffs.
Kraken at Stars picks and predictions
Prediction
Stars 4, Kraken 3
Moneyline
Dallas dropped Game 1 to Minnesota at home and responded with a 7-3 shellacking in Game 2. I look for another strong response. Dallas has scored 4 goals in 3 straight games, and they may need that kind of production as this has the looks of an Over series. I’m taking Dallas again in Game 2. They are healthy, and Seattle is still without top-scorer LW Jared McCann.
PASS on the -210 ML, though. I think we’re going to have another fast-paced 1st period. Take OVER 1.5 TOTAL GOALS FIRST PERIOD (+100).
Puck line/Against the spread
Three of the 4 games between the teams have required overtime this season. So Dallas’ puck line isn’t much of a consideration.
Seattle’s +1.5 (-160) is in a reasonable range, but you have to worry about the possibility of an empty-net goal in postseason play. Seattle was tied for the 7th-fewest empty netters allowed, but Dallas was tied for the 4th-most empty netters scored.
I could see siding with Seattle, but for the amount of risk on the road, I’d want it south of -150.
PASS.
Over/Under
All 4 games between the teams had at least 7 goals scored this season. Seattle has cashed the Over in 2 of the last 3 games and Dallas has cashed the Over in 3 of its last 4. The books don’t appear ready to adapt to those trends. Coming into the series, I expected an Under feel. However, with the way the train left the station in Game 1, and the plus-money available, I’m siding with the OVER 5.5 (+105).