Seattle Kraken vs. Anaheim Ducks Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/11/2022

Time: 10 p.m. ET

Venue: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA

Where to watch: HULU, ESPN+

DraftKings: Ducks -150, Kraken +130

WynnBet: Ducks -150, Kraken +130

Caesars: Ducks -150, Kraken +130

Kraken: 15-28-4 

Ducks: 23-16-9

Find me a more intriguing team for the second half of the NHL season than the Anaheim Ducks.

Fully grasping a playoff spot as a top-three team in the Pacific Division, with a young core highlighted by the most exciting young player in the league, the Ducks may be well ahead of schedule in terms of their rebuild. That journey for the Ducks begins on Friday in their first game out of the All-Star break at home against the Seattle Kraken.

And perhaps no player stole the show more during All-Star weekend than Calder Trophy contender Trevor Zegras for his shenanigans in the Breakaway Challenge. If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball, or five, and score a hockey goal. At least that's the vibe I got.

But Zegras is not only fun, but he's been the difference-maker on this Ducks team. Yeah, there's Troy Terry turning into an All-Star and leading the Ducks with 25 goals and 41 points, and John Gibson is also reminding the world that he's one of the best goalies on the planet. But Zegras has put a jolt into this franchise, along with defenseman Jamie Drysdale, in leading the Ducks into the future.

The Ducks closed the first half of the season with a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 31, a team that also featured Calder contender Lucas Raymond. The latter and his group got the better of Zegras, but it's still the ol' Mighty Ducks that have a chance to play some hockey into May.

“We don’t love giving up a point, obviously, but we played five games in eight days,,” said Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins, who flew to Detroit on Wednesday after missing several games due to COVID-19 protocols. “We have guys who are banged up. This break is welcome. Even though we gave up a point, our guys should be; holding their heads up, playing in three time zones and find a way to battle to get some points.”

Anaheim returns home with plenty to feel proud of to this point, and it's why we can look at them as a threat. The forward group is capable of scoring at will; the blue line is deep through all three pairs; and of course, there's Gibson playing spectacular hockey. And a game against the Kraken, who came out of the break with a 5-2 loss to the last-place Arizona Coyotes, is the perfect remedy after more than 10 days off since their last game.

Give me Anaheim in one where we can expect a few highlight-reel moments. Ducks win 5-2

The Kraken are 3-10 against division opponents.

The Kraken are 9-18 off an over this season.

The Ducks are 1-11 when playing on three or more days of rest.

The Ducks are 12-37 after winning two of three.

Kraken:

Marcus Johansson -- Jared McCann -- Jordan Eberle

Mason Appleton -- Yanni Gourde -- Calle Jarnkrok

Ryan Donato -- Alex Wennberg -- Joonas Donskoi

Colin Blackwell -- Morgan Geekie -- Riley Sheahan

Mark Giordano -- Adam Larsson

Vince Dunn -- Jeremy Lauzon

Haydn Fleury -- Will Borgen

Philipp Grubauer

Ducks:

Rickard Rakell -- Ryan Getzlaf -- Troy Terry

Trevor Zegras -- Sam Carrick -- Adam Henrique

Max Comtois -- Sam Steel -- Nicolas Deslauriers

Derek Grant -- Isac Lundestrom -- Jakob Silfverberg

Cam Fowler -- Josh Mahura

Hampus Lindholm -- Kevin Shattenkirk

Simon Benoit -- Jamie Drysdale

John Gibson