Kraken vs Sharks

With Seattle mired in a brutal December (1-7-0 this month and riding a four-game skid) and missing key forwards Jared McCann, Berkly Catton and Jaden Schwartz plus puck-moving defenseman Brandon Montour listed day-to-day, I’m siding with the healthier and hotter San Jose side on the moneyline at -115. The Sharks, who have gone 5-4-0 in December and recently ripped off a three-game win streak before Thursday’s loss to Dallas, are much more comfortable at home (10-6-3 at SAP Center) than the Kraken have been on the road, and Macklin Celebrini’s breakout first line has consistently driven offense even with Philipp Kurashev, Will Smith and Logan Couture sidelined. Seattle’s underlying problem is that its offense has dried up while allowing 102 goals in 32 games and getting caved in during this recent stretch, and although Joey Daccord can still steal a night, the combination of San Jose’s home form, Seattle’s injuries up front, and the Sharks’ slight historical edge at SAP Center makes the small favorite price palatable. Given San Jose’s defensive volatility and the Kraken’s overall talent level, I grade Sharks -115 as a B: a solid but not slam-dunk edge with fair value in what is still a matchup between two flawed teams. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/12/2025 09:47

The total is set at 6 with the Over juiced to -125, and the way these rosters and recent form line up, I lean to goals despite the price. San Jose has quietly turned into a high-event team, scoring 105 and allowing 118 through 35 games, with recent home results like 6-3 vs Calgary and 6-5 vs Pittsburgh highlighting how Celebrini, William Eklund and Jeff Skinner can push pace even while the blue line bleeds chances, and Seattle’s defensive structure has fallen apart in December with blowout losses to Edmonton, Utah and Colorado. The Kraken have allowed at least four goals in six of eight games this month, their penalty kill has been under siege, and with McCann and Schwartz out they’re now relying heavily on Matty Beniers, Chandler Stephenson and Eeli Tolvanen to trade chances rather than grind out low-event wins. With both clubs on short rest after playing Thursday, fatigue should favor offense over systems, and although Daccord or Yaroslav Askarov can certainly flash, the combination of tired legs, shaky defensive depth and two aggressive top lines makes a 4-3 or 5-2 type script more likely than a tight 3-2 grinder. I grade Over 6 at -125 as a B-: the number is right but the matchup and current form tilt just enough toward another loose Shark Tank scoreboard. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/12/2025 09:47

For the puckline, I prefer chasing plus money with San Jose -1.5 at 215 rather than laying the expensive Seattle +1.5 at -267, but the risk profile keeps this to a C+ play. The Sharks have already shown blowout potential in this matchup range, hammering Seattle 6-1 on November 5 and piling up multi-goal wins at home against Utah, Carolina and Pittsburgh, and if Celebrini’s line gets rolling against a Kraken team that has been outscored 32-18 during its 1-9-1 spiral, empty-net insurance is very live. At the same time, San Jose’s own defensive issues and injuries to key centers (Couture, Smith, Kurashev) mean they’re prone to lapses that can turn a dominant run of play into a one-goal sweat, and Seattle still has enough finishing from Beniers, Tolvanen and Jordan Eberle to backdoor the +1.5 or at least keep things within one. With the Sharks’ home dominance and recent three-game heater before the Dallas loss pointing to a higher ceiling, but the club’s inconsistency and goaltending volatility limiting confidence, Sharks -1.5 at 215 gets a C+ grade: an entertaining, high-upside flier rather than a core position. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 20/12/2025 09:47