Kraken vs Devils

Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils return to Prudential Center trying to build on a badly needed 5-2 win over Minnesota that snapped a multi-game skid and nudged them back into the Eastern playoff race around the halfway mark, while the Seattle Kraken arrive on this road swing riding a 9-1-2 heater in their last 12 after a resilient 4-2 comeback at Madison Square Garden.([allaboutthejersey.com](https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/devils-game-previews/65545/game-preview-47-seattle-kraken-new-jersey-devils?utm_source=openai)) Even with Seattle’s surge and their defense allowing just 2.82 goals per game compared to New Jersey’s 3.11, the matchup history is hard to ignore: the Devils are 6-0-2 all-time against the Kraken and 4-0-0 against them at home, with Hughes posting seven points and Dawson Mercer three goals in those meetings.([550thezone.iheart.com](https://550thezone.iheart.com/content/2026-01-13-devils-vs-kraken-prediction-picks-jan-14/?utm_source=openai)) Roster-wise, both teams’ cores are intact—Seattle leaning on a top six built around Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann plus Vince Dunn on the blue line, and New Jersey countering with Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt and a deep defense—but the Kraken are still down key depth in Jaden Schwartz and Max McCormick, while the Devils miss energy forwards Stefan Noesen, Marc McLaughlin and Zack MacEwen.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/roster/_/name/sea/seattle-kraken?utm_source=openai)) With Seattle’s recent form and goaltending tandem of Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer making the underdog attractive at 138, I still side with New Jersey’s home-ice edge, their perfect record against this opponent and the urgency of bankable points in a tight Metro race at -162, grading the moneyline a B- mainly because the price is a bit rich for a favorite facing one of the league’s hottest teams. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 14/01/2026 09:23

With both teams sitting below three goals per game on the season and trending toward low- to mid-event hockey lately, the total of 6 feels a touch high, so I lean Under 6 at -118.([550thezone.iheart.com](https://550thezone.iheart.com/content/2026-01-13-devils-vs-kraken-prediction-picks-jan-14/?utm_source=openai)) Seattle’s identity this year has been structured, defense-first hockey—eighth in the league at 2.82 goals against per game and generally suppressing chances through the Daccord/Grubauer tandem—whereas New Jersey generates plenty of shots but converts at just 2.61 goals per game and has labored to score during a run of only three wins in its last 11.([550thezone.iheart.com](https://550thezone.iheart.com/content/2026-01-13-devils-vs-kraken-prediction-picks-jan-14/?utm_source=openai)) Recent results support a more cautious expectation: the Kraken have kept opponents to three or fewer in most of their recent outings, including tight 3-2 and 4-2 games on this trip, while the Devils’ offense has been streaky, with their Wild win standing out amid a series of low-output nights.([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/nhl/wild-blow-lead-beat-kraken-ot-mats-zuccarello-goal--flm-2026-01-09/?utm_source=openai)) Injuries also lean slightly toward the Under with Seattle missing Schwartz and other depth on the wings and New Jersey down Noesen, McLaughlin and MacEwen, which trims secondary scoring more than it affects top-unit power-play time for Hughes, Bratt and Hischier.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/injuries/_/name/sea/seattle-kraken?utm_source=openai)) Between Seattle’s stingy structure, New Jersey’s recent shooting funk and the push protection on exactly six, I grade Under 6 (-118) as a B-level play—solid but not elite, given the volatility of modern NHL scoring and the Kraken’s occasionally vulnerable penalty kill.([550thezone.iheart.com](https://550thezone.iheart.com/content/2026-01-13-devils-vs-kraken-prediction-picks-jan-14/?utm_source=openai)) Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 14/01/2026 09:23

Given how often Seattle plays one-goal games and how rarely New Jersey runs away from opponents, the most attractive angle here is the Kraken +1.5 puckline at -182. Seattle has already banked 20 points in 16 one-goal decisions and comes in on that 9-1-2 surge built on tight-checking, goaltending-driven efforts, while New Jersey’s last 10 include six regulation losses and one overtime defeat with only a couple of multi-goal wins despite strong shot volume.([550thezone.iheart.com](https://550thezone.iheart.com/content/2026-01-13-devils-vs-kraken-prediction-picks-jan-14/?utm_source=openai)) Historical matchup data reinforces the idea of a competitive contest: the Devils are 6-0-2 all-time against the Kraken and perfect at home, but several of those victories have been by a single goal, and this iteration of Seattle—with Beniers, Eberle, McCann and Dunn all available—looks deeper than the early expansion versions that faced a more dominant Devils roster.([nhl.com](https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/topic/gameday/njd-vs-sea/01-14-2026/2025020735/preview-2025020735?utm_source=openai)) With Schwartz and some Kraken depth still sidelined and the Devils missing Noesen, McLaughlin and MacEwen, both benches are thinner than ideal, which often compresses scoring and keeps late empty-net scenarios from turning into multi-goal margins as frequently.([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/injuries/_/name/sea/seattle-kraken?utm_source=openai)) Balancing Seattle’s strong recent form, their clear propensity to stay within a goal and the inconsistency New Jersey has shown even in good spots, I’m comfortable grading Kraken +1.5 (-182) as a B+ puckline pick despite the juice, especially for bettors more interested in a safer leg than in laying heavier moneyline chalk. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 14/01/2026 09:23