Kraken vs. Stars Game 7 prediction: NHL playoff picks and odds

There’s so much to like about the story the Seattle Kraken are putting together this spring.

The Kraken were awful last season — their first in the NHL — and were not given much of a chance even to make the postseason, let alone make a run.

And when Seattle did qualify for the dance, most of the hockey-watching world thought it would be a one-and-done situation since the Kraken drew the Colorado Avalanche in Round 1.

Not so fast. Despite being an underdog in all seven games, Seattle eliminated the Avs in a terrific Game 7 performance. 

That victory set up a best-of-7 series with the Dallas Stars. 

Kraken vs. Stars Game 7 prediction

(8 p.m. ET. ESPN)

Dallas was terrific in its Round 1 victory over the Minnesota Wild, but it was a bit surprising to see how much respect the Stars were getting over the Kraken.

Seattle was full value in its win over the defending Stanley Cup champions, so it would have made sense to see the Kraken get some love from bettors. 

That wasn’t the case.

The Stars closed as a -210 favorite in Game 1, which was not far off from where Colorado ended up in Game 7 just a few nights prior. 

Seattle would win that contest, but the market barely budged for Game 2.

The two teams came back to Dallas tied, 2-2, for Game 5, and the number was still in the same range.

And after a gutsy win in Game 6, the Kraken are coming back to ‘Big D’ as a big dog.

At the time of writing Seattle is as high as +176 to win Game 7.

What does this team need to do to get some more respect?

That isn’t to say that Seattle shouldn’t be a sizable underdog in this spot.

Dallas is the better team and is playing at home (though that’s not been an advantage in this postseason), but the Kraken have shown us time and again that they’re perfectly comfortable in this environment.

And it’s not like Seattle is some scrappy little engine that could.

The Kraken comfortably qualified for the playoffs and were in the hunt for the Pacific Division for most of the season. No team scored more goals at 5-on-5 than Seattle during the regular season.

Another reason that the Kraken should be confident that they can upset the odds on Monday night is that Dallas’ biggest advantage in this series has not shown up.

Jake Oettinger has established himself as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL over the last two seasons, but he’s struggled big time through the first six games of this matchup and it’s hard to be confident that Oettinger will snap back into form.

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Without that edge in goal, Dallas becomes vulnerable.

The Kraken have been a great bet as an underdog this postseason. I see no reason not to go back to the well on Monday night.

Kraken vs. Stars Game 7 pick

The Bet: Seattle Kraken (+175, Caesars)