The Seattle Kraken will look to play the role of spoiler on Wednesday when they take on the Vancouver Canucks.

The Canucks enter this matchup seven points back of the Minnesota Wild for the final playoff spot with one game in hand, and will likely need a record of at least 6-2-0 in the remaining eight games to have any shot at the playoffs this season.

Vancouver is well rested, having been off since Sunday’s 3-1 loss versus the Winnipeg Jets. They are just 15-13-7 on home ice this season, which is one key reason they may fail to qualify for the postseason.

I’ll detail the relevant game notes, as well as outline my favourite betting angle below.

Though their fans likely are rooting for a little more of a dropoff, the Kraken have offered fairly comparable form down the stretch, as we have seen throughout the rest of the campaign. They are 4-4-2 over the last 10 games and hold an expected goal share of 52.23%.

They enter this matchup off back-to-back losses versus the high-powered Dallas Stars, losing by a combined margin of 8-2. They generated 72 shots across the two games combined. However, it could certainly have fared better with more competent finishing.

While the Kraken’s recent underlying metrics have been quite solid for a non-playoff team, goaltender Joey Daccord has come down to earth after an incredible start to the season. Daccord holds a .883 save percentage and a 3.30 GAA over his last 11 starts but still holds a strong +15.5 GSAx rating over the entirety of the season. He is expected to get the start in this matchup.

The Kraken rank 16th in the NHL in goals scored per game this season but have taken considerable steps backward defensively, allowing 3.23 goals against per game and 3.37 xGA/60. It was expected that under head coach Dan Bylsma, the team would play a more offensive style than we saw last season under former head coach Dave Hakstol, and that has been the case, but it has come at a cost defensively.

The Kraken have a deep forward corps, leading to a well-balanced offensive attack, but a lack of truly dynamic offensive stars remains a significant concern. Jared McCann leads the team with 52 points in 75 games played, while Jaden Schwartz leads the team in goals scored with 23.

After trading away forwards Oliver Bjorkstrand, Yanni Gourde, and Brandon Tanev at the trade deadline, the team was able to recall Jani Nyman from the Coachella Firebirds of the AHL. While Nyman has not been dominant defensively, he has contributed three goals and six points in his first ten NHL games.

The Kraken have zero players on the injured reserve and should be at full strength in this matchup.

Considering the talent remaining in the lineup, the Canucks authored a respectable performance in Winnipeg on Sunday but were unable to best a Jets side that is 28-6-4 on home ice this season. The Jets held a 15-9 edge in high-danger scoring chances and outshot the Canucks 27-24.

It’s going to take a special run for the Canucks to sneak in at this point, as even 6-2-0 likely won’t be enough to earn the final playoff spot. One factor working in the Canucks favour is that they do play the Minnesota Wild on April 12th, and could create a four-point swing with a regulation win.

For the upcoming game versus Minnesota to matter, the Canucks probably need to win this matchup. Unfortunately, it seems as though they will have to do so without Nils Höglander and Elias Pettersson, who will likely still remain sidelined with their respective injuries.

Brock Boeser is on paper the team’s top remaining forward and has started to elevate his game of late with six goals and eight points over the last seven games. It’s up in the air whether Boeser will be a Canuck next season with free agency looming, but the 28-year-old has done his best to reward management for opting to pass on what were supposedly poor offers at the trade deadline with better play.

Thatcher Demko has been confirmed as the starting goaltender in this matchup. He has been in great form since returning from injury on March 24th and now holds a +4.1 GSAx and .892 save percentage in 20 appearances this season.

A rested Canucks side should be well prepared to leave everything out there in this matchup, as a loss here would almost certainly mean coming up short in the playoff race. While the Canucks fill-ins have done an admirable job so far, the Kraken arguably have a comparable amount of talent on the roster right now, and for that reason I’m not quite sold on laying -154 with the Canucks in this matchup.

Considering the prices, this looks like a good spot to back Boeser in the prop market. He is the best goalscorer left in the lineup and still has much to prove before entering free agency this summer. He has recorded six shots over the last two games and gets a solid matchup to hit three shots once again here versus the Kraken.

Considering the +145 price tag, this looks like a good spot to back Boeser pouring three or more shots on goal as the Canucks attempt to stay alive.