Kraken vs Stars Game 1 Prediction, Odds & Props
- The Kraken vs Stars Game 1 odds feature Dallas as a -175 moneyline favorite in their Second Round Playoff series
- Seattle’s leading scorer Jared McCann’s status is unknown after suffering an undisclosed injury in the opening round
- Check out the latest Kraken vs Stars Game 1 odds here, plus injury news and player prop picks
The opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs was heavy on drama and even heavier on upsets. Several teams are through to the second round that we didn’t expect, including the Kraken. Seattle shocked the defending champion Avalanches in seven games in Round 1, and are now set to open up their next series on Tuesday versus the Stars.
Dallas dispatched the Wild in the opening round, and are big favorites to do the same to the Kraken in Round 2. Per the NHL odds, the Stars are the heavy chalk in Game 1 and in the series odds market.
Kraken vs Stars Game 1 Odds
| Team | Puck Line | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Kraken | +1.5 (-175) | +150 | O 5.5 (+100) |
| Dallas Stars | -1.5 (+150) | -175 | U 5.5 (-120) |
Dallas is currently a -175 moneyline favorite in the series opener, while the contest features a total of 5.5. Puck drop is set for 9:30 pm ET at American Airlines Arena, with ESPN providing the broadcast coverage.
Odds as of May 1 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Seattle vs Dallas Betting Splits
As for the NHL public betting trends, the action overwhelmingly favors the Stars. Dallas is garnering 72% of the moneyline bets ahead of Game 1, and 88% of the handle.
Total wise, the public is leaning over, while the big money bettors are backing the under. 66% of the over/under tickets are on over 5.5 goals, but 59% of the total handle is on the under.
Stars vs Kraken Money Percentages
| Team | % of ATS Bets / % of ATS Money | % of ML Bets / % of ML Money | % of Totals Bets / % of Totals Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Kraken | 55% / 20% | 28% / 12% | Ov 41% / 66% |
| Dallas Stars | 45% / 80% | 72% / 88% | Un 34% / 59% |
In terms of the series odds, Dallas is a -205 favorite to advance in the NHL playoff bracket, with Seattle coming back as +175 underdogs.
Kraken vs Stars Injury Report
The most impressive thing about Seattle’s first-round upset over Colorado was that they played the final three games without their best player. Jared McCann went down in Game 4 thanks to a cheap shot from Cale Maker, and his status moving forward is still unknown.
McCann is currently considered day-to-day, but there’s been no indication he’ll be back on the ice anytime soon. The Kraken were also without top-six forward Andre Burakovsky (lower body) for all of Round 1, and he won’t suit up in Game 1 either.
As for the Stars, Joe Pavelski is set to return after suffering a concussion in Game 1 of Dallas’ first-round series. Pavelski was the team’s third-leading scorer during the regular season, and his return only strengthens the West’s second-leading contender in the Stanley Cup odds.
Kraken vs Stars Betting Notes
Seattle’s recipe for success versus the Avalanche was predicated on two things. Incredible scoring depth and strong goaltending from Phillip Grubauer.
The Kraken got quality production from all four lines during the regular season, and the playoffs were no different. 15 different players lit the lamp in Round 1. No player scored more than twice, while they didn’t get a single goal from McCann in his four games, after the potted 40 in the regular season.
Grubauer meanwhile, drastically exceeded expectations. He produced a .925 save percentage in the opening round, and held the mighty Avs to only nine goals over the series’ final four games.
The 31-year-old will need to maintain that level of play against the Stars, especially versus their top two lines. Dallas is incredibly top-heavy up front, just like Colorado was. The Stars had a trio of 30+ goal scorers in the regular season (Jason Robertson, Jamie Benn and Roope Hintz), and multiple other forwards with a high-scoring pedigree (Pavelski and Tyler Seguin).
This was sick from Roope Hintz pic.twitter.com/t5u7QT4vHJ
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) April 29, 2023
Dallas did a ton of damage on the powerplay, scoring nine times versus Minnesota, and special teams could be where this series is won and lost. The Stars clicked on 37.5% of their man advantage opportunities in Round 1, while the Kraken converted only 14.3% of theirs.
Seattle powerplay goals will be tough to come by given the form of Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, who was spectacular in first round. He posted a 2.01 GAA and .929 save percentage, allowing only one goal over his past two starts.
Kraken vs Stars Predictions
Only the Rangers averaged fewer goals against in Round 1 than the Stars, while the Kraken were among the top-six as well. Game 1 is shaping up to be a low-scoring affair, but rather than bet the game total, let’s fade the Seattle offense.
Yes, their depth is incredible, but they’re going to be hard-pressed to produce a ton of offense without McCann, despite what we saw in the first round. The Kraken ranked second worst among West teams in offensive zone time in Round 1, while the Stars were third best. Seattle ranked over expectation in terms of offensive efficiency, and that’s likely to regress versus Oettinger and Co.
First Round down. On to the next. 🔜@PNCBank | #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/pdMOdYRJXP
— z – Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 1, 2023
As for the player props market, the over on Wyatt Johnston’s shots total is enticing. The 19-year-old logged over 18 minutes in the opening round, averaging 3.3 shots per game. His over/under for Game 1 is just 1.5, a number he’s cleared six times in his past eight outings.
Picks: Seattle Kraken Under 2.5 Goals (-125), Wyatt Johnston Over 1.5 Shots (-190)
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOKBET $5 ON NHL & GET $200 IN BONUS BETS INSTANTLY!
- FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK
BET $5 & GET $150 GUARANTEED!
- BETMGM SPORTSBOOK
GET UP TO $1,500 BACK IN BONUS BETS!
- CAESARS SPORTSBOOK
GET UP TO $1,000 BACK - ON CAESARS!
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
