by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Jan 25, 2023
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
Where to watch: ROOT-NW, SNP
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Kraken -195, Canucks +165
FanDuel: Kraken -182, Canucks +150
BetMGM: Kraken -185, Canucks +150
Caesars: Kraken -189, Canucks +158
Season record
Canucks: 19-25-3
Kraken: 27-14-5
We’ve hit the halfway mark in the NHL season. Yes, you read that right. We’re really hit that halfway mark that quickly. If you blinked, you probably missed a lot of good things happen in the hockey world. And with football about to be out of the way, look for our champion handicappers to get back on the rink. Oskeim Sports is on a 13-5-0 run in the NHL over the last 30 days, as is Will Rogers. Sean Murphy has also cashed in with a 16-10-0 run in the last month. Make sure you’re following our champion handicappers at bigal.com to get on this winning action!
Canucks - Kraken preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Canucks: won 5-2 vs. Blackhawks
Kraken: lost 2-1 (SO) vs. Avalanche
The Vancouver Canucks will be playing the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, January 25 in Seattle, Washington.
The Vancouver Canucks lost against the Edmonton Oilers last Saturday, January 21 in Vancouver with a score of 4-2. The Vancouver Canucks currently rank 6th in the Pacific Division. J.T. Miller and Andrei Kuzmenko scored, Quinn Hughes had two assists, and Spencer Martin made 25 saves for the Canucks.
"We're proud of the way we stuck with it and fought until the very end," Vancouver captain Bo Horvat said. "We all really care about Bruce in here. He cares about every single guy in this room and whatever the fate may be, we're always going to respect him as a person and as a coach.
"He's done nothing but great things for us, so much respect for him. And he's always going to be one of my favorites."
The Canucks rebounded for a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday in the Vancouver coaching debut of Rick Tocchet. Tocchet replaced Bruce Boudreau on Sunday, who was fired after less than two full seasons on the job.
Dakota Joshua and Sheldon Dries scored 34 seconds apart in the third period to end the three-game losing streak.
"The players kind of bought in," Tocchet said. "There's been some tough circumstances the last few days. There was a lot of emotions and heads spinning. I threw some stuff at them today; we had longer meetings than I like to. For them to take it in and play good, I commend the players.''
The Seattle Kraken lost against the Colorado Avalanche last Saturday, January 21 in Seattle, Washington with a score of 2-1 in a shootout. The Seattle Kraken currently rank 3rd in the Pacific Division. Ryan Donato scored for Seattle. Philipp Grubauer made 26 saves.
"It was a battle. We were in a battle for 65-plus minutes with the shootout," Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. "Obviously, it's disappointing when you don't win in the shootout and get the extra point. In terms of our effort, our work level with battle was good throughout the hockey game. You'd like to be able to execute a little better in a couple of situations, but hey, it was that type of hockey game all the way through."
Alex Newhook gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 8:18 of the second period, scoring on a rebound from the bottom of the right circle after Grubauer couldn't handle Jacob MacDonald's shot from the right point. Donato responded to tie it 1-1 at 9:26, beating Francouz five-hole from the top of the right circle following a giveaway by Samuel Girard along the boards.
"I think those games are fun to play in," Grubauer said. "They did a really good job in their [defensive] zone shutting us down, and so did we. Just a battle all over the ice. One mistake, and it could have gone the other way."
The Seattle Kraken have won seven of their last 10 games.
Prediction
The Canucks did what they were supposed to do on Tuesday. Trying it again on Wednesday against a playoff contender won't be so simple. Kraken 5, Canucks 3
The Vancouver Canucks will be playing the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, January 25 in Seattle, Washington.
The Vancouver Canucks lost against the Edmonton Oilers last Saturday, January 21 in Vancouver with a score of 4-2. The Vancouver Canucks currently rank 6th in the Pacific Division. J.T. Miller and Andrei Kuzmenko scored, Quinn Hughes had two assists, and Spencer Martin made 25 saves for the Canucks.
"We're proud of the way we stuck with it and fought until the very end," Vancouver captain Bo Horvat said. "We all really care about Bruce in here. He cares about every single guy in this room and whatever the fate may be, we're always going to respect him as a person and as a coach.
"He's done nothing but great things for us, so much respect for him. And he's always going to be one of my favorites."
The Canucks rebounded for a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday in the Vancouver coaching debut of Rick Tocchet. Tocchet replaced Bruce Boudreau on Sunday, who was fired after less than two full seasons on the job.
Dakota Joshua and Sheldon Dries scored 34 seconds apart in the third period to end the three-game losing streak.
"The players kind of bought in," Tocchet said. "There's been some tough circumstances the last few days. There was a lot of emotions and heads spinning. I threw some stuff at them today; we had longer meetings than I like to. For them to take it in and play good, I commend the players.''
The Seattle Kraken lost against the Colorado Avalanche last Saturday, January 21 in Seattle, Washington with a score of 2-1 in a shootout. The Seattle Kraken currently rank 3rd in the Pacific Division. Ryan Donato scored for Seattle. Philipp Grubauer made 26 saves.
"It was a battle. We were in a battle for 65-plus minutes with the shootout," Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. "Obviously, it's disappointing when you don't win in the shootout and get the extra point. In terms of our effort, our work level with battle was good throughout the hockey game. You'd like to be able to execute a little better in a couple of situations, but hey, it was that type of hockey game all the way through."
Alex Newhook gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 8:18 of the second period, scoring on a rebound from the bottom of the right circle after Grubauer couldn't handle Jacob MacDonald's shot from the right point. Donato responded to tie it 1-1 at 9:26, beating Francouz five-hole from the top of the right circle following a giveaway by Samuel Girard along the boards.
"I think those games are fun to play in," Grubauer said. "They did a really good job in their [defensive] zone shutting us down, and so did we. Just a battle all over the ice. One mistake, and it could have gone the other way."
The Seattle Kraken have won seven of their last 10 games.
Prediction
The Canucks did what they were supposed to do on Tuesday. Trying it again on Wednesday against a playoff contender won't be so simple. Kraken 5, Canucks 3
Betting trends
Canucks are 6-0 all-time against the Kraken.
Kraken are 5-0 in their last 5 when the opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Canucks have lost six of their last seven road games.
Canucks are 6-0 all-time against the Kraken.
Kraken are 5-0 in their last 5 when the opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Canucks have lost six of their last seven road games.
Projected lines
Canucks:
Jack Studnicka -- Bo Horvat -- Brock Boeser
Ilya Mikheyev -- Elias Pettersson -- Andrei Kuzmenko
Sheldon Dries -- J.T. Miller -- Conor Garland
Dakota Joshua -- Curtis Lazar -- William Lockwood
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Luke Schenn
Quinn Hughes -- Tyler Myers
Travis Dermott -- Kyle Burroughs
Spencer Martin
Jack Studnicka -- Bo Horvat -- Brock Boeser
Ilya Mikheyev -- Elias Pettersson -- Andrei Kuzmenko
Sheldon Dries -- J.T. Miller -- Conor Garland
Dakota Joshua -- Curtis Lazar -- William Lockwood
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Luke Schenn
Quinn Hughes -- Tyler Myers
Travis Dermott -- Kyle Burroughs
Spencer Martin
Kraken:
Ryan Donato -- Alex Wennberg -- Jared McCann
Eeli Tolvanen -- Yanni Gourde -- Oliver Bjorkstrand
Andre Burakovsky -- Matty Beniers -- Jordan Eberle
Daniel Sprong -- Morgan Geekie -- Brandon Tanev
Vince Dunn -- Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleksiak -- Will Borgen
Carson Soucy -- Cale Fleury
Martin Jones
Ryan Donato -- Alex Wennberg -- Jared McCann
Eeli Tolvanen -- Yanni Gourde -- Oliver Bjorkstrand
Andre Burakovsky -- Matty Beniers -- Jordan Eberle
Daniel Sprong -- Morgan Geekie -- Brandon Tanev
Vince Dunn -- Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleksiak -- Will Borgen
Carson Soucy -- Cale Fleury
Martin Jones
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
