Minnesota Wild vs Seattle Kraken Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/08/2026

Game Time: 10:00 pm ET, Thursday, January 8, 2026

Venue:  Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Wild -155, Kraken +130; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Wild -155, Kraken +130; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Wild -155, Kraken +130; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Minnesota Wild:  25-11-8 (3rd place, Central Division)

Seattle Kraken:  20-14-7 (3rd place, Pacific Division)

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Minnesota Wild:  5-2-3 last 10

Seattle Kraken:  8-1-1 last 10

The Wild are entering this game with 58 points, a 25-11-8 record overall, and they are 12-7-3 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Los Angeles Kings in their last game, losing that one on the road 4-2. Jared Spurgeon and Ryan Hartman each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Jared Spurgeon, Brock Faber, Jonas Brodin, and Nico Sturm each led the team in assists with 1 while Joel Eriksson Ek, Kirill Kaprizov, and Mats Zuccarello each led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Filip Gustavsson was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 32 shots with 29 saves and a .906 save percentage. Their offense has scored 140 goals this season averaging 3.2 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 119 goals against them allowing 2.7 goals per game.

The Kraken are entering this game with 47 points, a 20-14-7 record overall, and they are 10-7-4 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Boston Bruins in their last game, winning that one at home 7-4. Kaapo Kakko and Berkly Catton each led the team in goals scored with 2 while Jared McCann, Ben Meyers, and Jordan Eberle each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Frédérick Gaudreau, Matty Beniers, and Vince Dunn each led the team in assists with 2 while Kaapo Kakko, Jared McCann, and Matty Beniers each led the team in shots on net in that game with 3. Joey Daccord was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 4 goals on 36 shots with 32 saves and a .889 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 115 goals this season averaging 2.8 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 120 goals against them allowing 2.9 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Wild listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Wild have looked really good in their games this season with their 25-11-8 record overall which has them right in the top half of their division in the West. They have been a good road team too with their 12-7-3 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Kraken have looked good in their games this season with their 20-14-7 record overall which has them in the top half of their division in the West. They haven't looked great on home ice though with their 10-7-4 home record this season. The Kraken didn't have a great start to the season, but they have been rolling in their games lately and have now put themselves in a playoff position. They are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and have a ton of momentum on their side with 4 wins in a row now. They are off a 7-4 win over the Bruins in their last one and they are catching the Wild in a bit of a slump here, but the Wild still have a lot more talent on their team and will be looking to bounce back in this one. The Wild are 5-2-3 in their last 10 games and they have lost 2 games in a row now, but both of those losses were against the Kings and they will be looking to bounce back after an even worse performance in the 2nd game of those losses. The Wild are still the more defensively sound team that is going to play tighter here as they look to bounce back, and as hot as the Kraken have been lately, the Kraken have still allowed more goals this season than they have scored. The best way to place a bet here is on the Wild to win this game. 

Wild Kraken Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Thursday, January 8, 2026 (10:00 pm ET start time) is Wild 3 Kraken 0.

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Minnesota Wild: 28-15 (+8.2 units) on the moneyline as a road favorite. 60-37 (+13.5 units) on the moneyline when playing against a team with a losing record. 32-15 (+8.5 units) on the moneyline against poor possession teams-averaging 3+ less shots on goal than opp. 28-19 UNDER after 2 or more consecutive losses.

Seattle Kraken: 19-37 (-13.1 units) on the moneyline as a home underdog. 45-71 (-18.6 units) on the moneyline revenging a loss versus opponent as a favorite. 2-13 (-12.5 units) on the moneyline after scoring 6 goals or more in their previous game. 10-4 UNDER after scoring 6 goals or more in their previous game.

Minnesota Wild:  Z. Bogosian (D) Day To Day - Undisclosed. D. Hunt (D) Out - Undisclosed.

Seattle Kraken:  E. Tolvanen (RW) Day To Day - Illness. B. Montour (D) Out - Hand. J. Schwartz (C) Out - Lower Body. M. Murray (G) Out - Lower Body.

“I liked our first. I thought the third period, we made a good push. Second period we got outplayed, and to me, that was the story of the game.” - John Hynes after his team’s loss against the LA Kings in their game on Monday.

“Things are going in right now. Sometimes it has a way of ebbs and flows of the season, that kind of thing. But the power play was outstanding again tonight." - Lane Lambert after his team’s win against the Bruins in their game on Tuesday.

LW Kirill Kaprizov

C Danila Yurov

RW Mats Zuccarello

LD Quinn Hughes

RD Brock Faber

G Filip Gustavsson

LW Kaapo Kakko

C Matthew Beniers

RW Jordan Eberle

LD Vince Dunn

RD Adam Larsson

G Joey Daccord

Points: Kirill Kaprizov (49)

Goals: Matt Boldy (26)

Assists: Kirill Kaprizov (25)

GAA: Jesper Wallstedt (2.30)

Points: Jordan Eberle (28)

Goals: Jordan Eberle (15)

Assists: Matty Beniers (19)

GAA: Matt Murray (2.21)

Coaches:

Minnesota Wild: John Hynes (3rd season)

Seattle Kraken: Lane Lambert (1st season)