Kraken vs Rangers Picks and Predictions: Blueshirts Avoid Losing Skid Against Visiting Kraken

There are seven games on the NHL betting board this Sunday, beginning with an afternoon showdown between the Seattle Kraken and New York Rangers. The expansion Kraken are coming off an overtime victory against the red-hot Penguins and will aim to pull off another upset today at Madison Square Garden.

Meanwhile, the Rangers will look to avoid a three-game slide after some uneven performances last week. Here are our best free NHL picks and predictions for Kraken vs. Rangers for Sunday, January 30, with the puck dropping at 1 p.m. ET. 

Kraken vs Rangers odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

This line opened with the Rangers installed as -197 favorites with the Over/Under at 6. The line has shifted up and down a few times and as of 9:30 a.m. is at -192 while the total has moved down to 5.5. The only time these teams previously played against each other was back in October when the Rangers won 3-1 as -119 road favorites. 

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Kraken vs Rangers predictions

• Prediction: Rangers 3-way ML (-130)
• Prediction: Under 5.5 (-105)
• Best bet: Kraken TT Under 2.5 (-140)

Predictions made on 1/30/2022 at 9:30 X.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Kraken vs Rangers game info

• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
• Date: Sunday, January 30, 2022
• Puck drop: 1:00 p.m. ET
• TV: MSG, Root Sports NW

Kraken vs Rangers betting preview

Key injuries

Kraken: Carson Soucy D (Questionable), Jamie Oleksiak D (Out), Jaden Schwartz LW (Out), Brandon Tanev LW (Out).
Rangers: Filip Chytil C (Questionable), Kappo Kakko RW (Out), Adam Fox D (Out), Patrik Nemeth D (Out), Sammy Blais LW (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.

Kraken vs Rangers head-to-head record

Kraken: 0-1, 1 goal for.
Rangers: 1-0, 3 goals for.

Betting trend to know

The Rangers are 18-6 in their last 24 games as a home favorite. Find more NHL betting trends for Kraken vs. Rangers.

Kraken vs Rangers picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Moneyline analysis

The Kraken are 4-2 in their last six games and are fresh off a 2-1 overtime win on the road against the Penguins on Thursday. That was a big win for the league's newest franchise with Seattle going through the expected first-year growing pains and sitting 29th in the NHL with a point percentage of .372.

The Rangers are coming off back-to-back losses, falling to the Blue Jackets on Thursday and the Wild on Friday. That said, New York still has the sixth-best point percentage in the NHL and has won six of its last seven games at home.

Seattle has been very solid on the defensive end of the ice but still ranks near the bottom of the league in goals allowed because of poor play between the pipes. Philipp Grubauer had a sensational season with the Avs a year ago but has struggled with his new club, going 11-16-4 with a 3.20 GAA, .885 save percentage and a goals saved above expected of minus-24.9. 

The Rangers have used both Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev in nets but Shesterkin has clearly been the better option and will likely suit up on Sunday. The 26-year-old is 20-5-2 with a 2.10 GAA, .936 SV% and a GSAx of plus-23.1.

Goaltending isn't the only advantage the Rangers have in this matchup with New York scoring at a higher rate (2.94 goals per 60 minutes compared to 2.61 GF/60 for Seattle) and ranking among the Top-10 teams in the league on both the powerplay and penalty kill.  

The Kraken have been playing their best hockey of the season but now they face a playoff-caliber team on the road. With the Rangers 18-6 in their last 24 games as a home favorite and the Kraken 2-9 in their previous 11 contests as a road underdog, back the Blueshirts on the 3-way moneyline. 

Prediction: Rangers 3-way ML (-130)

Over/Under analysis

We mentioned that Grubauer is struggling this season but he's coming off his best performance as a Kraken, turning aside 23 of 24 shots against the Penguins. And he benefits from some excellent play in front of him with the Kraken allowing the second-fewest high danger chances in the league. They should be able to give Grubauer at least a fighting chance against a Rangers team that has had difficulties creating scoring chances at even strength all season. 

The Kraken will need to play well defensively because they likely aren't going to do much on the offensive end of the ice. Seattle has scored two goals or fewer in seven of their last 11 games and faces a red-hot netminder in Shesterkin. The Russian has been terrific this month going 6-1 with a 1.84 GAA and a .946 SV% and the Under has cashed in five of those contests. 

With the Under 6-2 in Seattle's last eight games and also going 13-6-1 in the Rangers' previous 20 contests, expect this game to stay below the total. 

Prediction: Under 5.5 (-105)

Best bet

Coming into this season, Seattle was expected to be a strong defensive team that wouldn't be able to put the puck in the net. While the Kraken have solid depth up front they still lack overall firepower and scoring threats, they rank just 29th in the league in HDCF/60 in 5v5 play while their powerplay is 26th. 

That's bad news against a Rangers team that is fourth in the league in blocked shots and ranks eighth on the penalty kill. Shesterkin has also been playing extremely well and leads the league in goals saved above expected so even if the Kraken do create chances they could find themselves stonewalled. Take the Under 2.5 on Seattle's team total. 

Pick: Kraken team total Under 2.5 (-140)

Pages related to this topic