Wild vs Kraken Prediction 1/8/26 NHL Picks Today

In this article, we will formulate a Wild vs Kraken Prediction for this NHL game on Thursday, January 8^th. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup.

Seattle Kraken Preview

The Kraken have 47 points this season with a 20-14-7 record, and are 29-12 ATS and 17-23 in over/under. They have a 10-7-4 home record and a 10-7-3 road record and are sitting 4th in the Pacific Division. They are coming off a 7-4 home win over the Bruins, and their previous three games were a 5-1 road win over the Flames, a 4-3 road shootout win over the Canucks, and a 4-1 home win over the Predators.

Offensively, the Kraken are averaging 2.78 goals per game and are scoring 22.7% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 2.83 goals per game and are killing 70.4% of their opponent’s power plays.

Jordan Eberle leads the Kraken with 28 points, also leading the team in goals with 15, while Matty Beniers leads the team in assists with 19. Joey Daccord is the starting goalie for the Kraken, and he has a 12-9-5 record, with 2.82 GAA and .903 SV%. Philipp Grubauer is the backup goalie and he has a 8-3-1 record, with 2.22 GAA and .926 SV%.

Minnesota Wild Preview

The Wild have 58 points this season with a 25-11-8 record, and are 25-19 ATS and 22-22 in over/under. They have a 13-4-5 home record and a 12-7-3 road record and are sitting 3rd in the Central Division. They are coming off a 4-2 road loss to the Kings, and their previous three games were a 5-4 road shootout loss to the Kings, a 5-2 road win over the Ducks, and a 4-3 road shootout loss to the Sharks.

Offensively, the Wild are averaging 3.11 goals per game and are scoring 22.4% of their power play opportunities. Defensively, they are allowing 2.64 goals per game and are killing 76.9% of their opponent’s power plays.

Kirill Kaprizov leads the Wild with 49 points, also leading the team in assists with 25, while Matt Boldy leads the team in goals with 26. Filip Gustavsson is the starting goalie for the Wild, and he has a 14-9-4 record, with 2.48 GAA and .912 SV%. Jesper Wallstedt is the backup goalie and he has a 11-2-4 record, with 2.30 GAA and .928 SV%.

Minnesota Wild @ Seattle Kraken Betting Trends: January 8, 2026

Why the Seattle Kraken will win

• The Kraken have won eight of their last nine games as underdogs.
• The Wild have lost each of their last two games as favorites against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Kraken have covered the puck line in each of their last nine games.
• The Wild have failed to cover the puck line in eight of their last nine road games against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Wild have lost the second period in each of their last four games as road favorites against Pacific Division opponents when trailing after the first period.

Why the Minnesota Wild will win

• The Wild have won each of their last six road games against the Kraken.
• The Kraken have lost each of their last four games against opponents on a losing streak.
• The Wild have covered the puck line in each of their last four road games against the Kraken.
• The Kraken have failed to cover the puck line in three of their last four games against Central Division opponents.
• The Kraken have lost the second period in each of their last eight games as underdogs against Central Division opponents when leading after the first period.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Wild’s last seven road games have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Seven of the Kraken’s last eight home games against Western Conference opponents have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3’ market has hit in each of the Wild’s last 11 road games against opponents on a winning streak.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the Kraken’s last three home games.

Seattle Kraken Player Prop Facts

• Jared McCann has scored a goal in each of his last six Thursday appearances against Western Conference opponents.
• Kaapo Kakko has recorded an assist in each of the Kraken’s last four games.

Minnesota Wild Player Prop Facts

• Kirill Kaprizov has scored at least one goal in each of his last four appearances against the Kraken.
• Matthew Boldy has recorded at least one assist in four of the Wild’s last five games against the Kraken.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Seattle Kraken rank 32nd in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (70.43%).
• The Seattle Kraken rank 26th in the league for goals per game this season (2.78).
• The Minnesota Wild rank 2nd in the league for goals against per game this season (2.64).
• The Minnesota Wild rank 26th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (76.92%).

Wild vs Kraken Prediction

The Wild have won their previous meeting against the Kraken this season by 4-1 on the road and are 7-2 in their last 9 meetings.

In this Wild vs Kraken Prediction, the Wild are coming as -162 road favorites. The Wild have been the better team this season, as they have more points and wins than the Kraken and also have more road wins than the Kraken have at home. The Kraken have been playing very good hockey lately, as they are 8-1 in their last 9 games having scored at least 4 goals in each of their last four games. On the flip side, the Wild are just 1-3 in their last 4 games and have conceded 4+ goals in three of their last four and are in a brutal scheduling spot, as they will be playing their 7^th straight game on the road. I like the Kraken here as home dogs, so them on the moneyline for plus money in this one.