Seattle Kraken vs. Chicago Blackhawks Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/7/2022

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Venue: United Center, Chicago, IL

Where to watch: ROOT-NW, NBC Sports Chicago

DraftKings: Blackhawks -160, Kraken +140

BetMGM: Blackhawks -155, Kraken +125

Caesars: Blackhawks -149, Kraken +130

Kraken: 22-42-6

Blackhawks: 24-35-11

When two bad teams get together on a Thursday, things tend to go haywire or some unfathomable stuff winds up happening. I’m not sure what kind of ordeal we’re looking at with the Seattle Kraken facing the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on Thursday, but with the Kraken on the second night of a back-to-back, something’s bound to give, right?

Considering the Blackhawks had not played since last Friday and sitting on a five-game losing streak, this is the perfect time for Chicago to get back on the winning track with a tired Kraken club coming in, off of travel, and getting manhandled by the St. Louis Blues 4-1 on Wednesday.

Jordan Eberle scored the lone goal for Seattle, and Chris Driedger had a strong 32-save effort to pace the expansion Seattle group that has 12 games remaining in its first NHL season. Vegas conspiracy theorists continue to have a riot over this, even though Seattle chose to not do anything in the expansion draft and it shows based on the results.

“This was one of those efforts that you crumple up and throw away," Driedger said.

With Driedger going on Wednesday, expect Philipp Grubauer to get the call in Chicago. If anything for Seattle, the goaltender battle should be in their favor heading into this matchup. That’s even with last year’s Vezina Trophy finalist turning into a pumpkin in his first season with the Kraken.

The Kraken have lost three of four and have yet to find that level of consistency to build off that 4-1 win at home against the Dallas Stars the other night. But again, that’s expected. This group wasn’t expected to contend outside of someone picking up NHL 22 and leading them to the Stanley Cup in Year 1 after trading every asset they had to improve, because why not?

But it’s not like things are any better for the Blackhawks right now, nor have they been for quite some time. Chicago is coming in having lost five straight and seven of nine, continuing this downward spiral of what could come should they embrace a rebuild and trade everyone this offseason. Yes, that includes Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, which wouldn’t make a lot of normal, cultured hockey people irate, but it would be what’s expected for this team to build from the ground up. 

Chicago is coming in, again not having played in five days, losing 3-2 at home to the Arizona Coyotes which did nothing for the latter’s draft lottery hopes. Alex DeBrincat, who has been probably the only bright spot to come out of this disgraceful season for Chicago, had two assists, and Kane and Dylan Strome added the two goals for Chicago in that loss, now 24-35-11 on the season.

“Every day seems like Groundhog Day right now,” Blackhawks interim coach Derek King said. “In the second period, I don’t know if we were tired or not, we shut our brains off and let them take the lead. It was a good thing we turned them back on.”

Derek, blink twice if you need help and want out. You’re allowed because you’re not any better than Jeremy Colliton at this rate.

There’s no way to make this game any better. And honestly, I’m tempted personally to stay away from this game because I wouldn’t even trust the lines coming out. But if we’re going based off my thought process that the road team on the SEGABABA doesn’t normally translate well the next game, then I’d take Chicago. But Grubauer against Kevin Lankinen is too much of a gap to not take advantage of. Seattle with the upset. Kraken win 4-2

The Kraken are 10-22 this season when playing their second game in five days.

The Blackhawks are 0-7 this season off a home loss by one goal.

The Blackhawks are 0-10 this season off an overtime loss their previous game.

Kraken:

Ryan Donato -- Alex Wennberg -- Jordan Eberle

Daniel Sprong -- Morgan Geekie -- Joonas Donskoi

Victor Rask -- Yanni Gourde -- Kole Lind

Jared McCann -- Riley Sheahan -- Karson Kuhlman

Adam Larsson -- Vince Dunn

Will Borgen -- Cale Fleury

Carson Soucy -- Jamie Oleksiak

Philipp Grubauer

Blackhawks:

Alex DeBrincat -- Dylan Strome -- Patrick Kane

Dominik Kubalik -- Jonathan Toews -- Sam Lafferty

Tyler Johnson -- Kirby Dach -- Taylor Raddysh

Boris Katchouk -- Reese Johnson -- MacKenzie Entwistle

Seth Jones -- Caleb Jones

Jake McCabe -- Calvin de Haan

Riley Stillman -- Erik Gustafsson

Kevin Lankinen

Points: Jared McCann -- 40

Goals: Jared McCann -- 25

Assists: Yanni Gourde -- 23

Goalie: Philipp Grubauer -- 15-28-5, 3.19 GAA, .888 SV%

Points: Patrick Kane -- 80

Goals: Alex DeBrincat -- 39

Assists: Patrick Kane -- 58

Goalie: Kevin Lankinen -- 4-10-6, 3.62 GAA, .888 SV%