Utah Seeks to End Skid, Kraken Eyes First Win After Five-Game Losing Streak
Utah Hockey Club vs. Seattle Kraken: Betting Preview and Key Insights for December 30 Showdown
As the NHL season heats up, the Utah Hockey Club (16-13-6) faces off against the Seattle Kraken (16-19-2) in a pivotal Western Conference clash at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. The game, scheduled for 8:00 PM ET on December 30, will be the first meeting between these two teams this season. With both teams currently struggling in their respective campaigns, the showdown promises to be a competitive one.
Current Form and Betting Odds: This is a tight match-up, with oddsmakers setting it as a pick ‘em game, reflecting the relatively equal standing of both teams. The total over/under is set at 6.0 goals, which suggests an expectation for a moderately high-scoring game.
Utah Hockey Club: Aiming to End Three-Game Skid
The Utah Hockey Club comes into this game looking to recover from a disappointing 0-2-1 stretch during a recent three-game homestand. After a 5-4 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks and a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Dallas Stars, the Hockey Club suffered a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche last Friday.
In their most recent outing, Utah fell to the Avalanche despite a strong offensive push, outshooting Colorado 37-35. However, the game slipped away late in the third period when the Avalanche scored three unanswered goals to seal the win. Nick Schmaltz, who has been the standout player for the Hockey Club this season, scored the lone goal in the loss, increasing his point tally to 28 (6 goals, 22 assists).
Goaltender Karel Vejmelka has been a consistent performer despite the team’s struggles. He stopped 33 of 35 shots in the loss to Colorado, improving his save percentage to .918 and maintaining a respectable 2.32 GAA for the season. Backup Jaxson Stauber, with a 2.96 GAA and .928 save percentage, has also provided solid support when called upon.
Despite their solid goaltending, Utah has struggled both offensively and defensively this season. The team is ranked 12th in goals allowed per game, giving up 2.89 goals on average. On the offensive end, Utah averages 2.94 goals per game, which places them tied for 20th in the NHL, making it difficult to overcome even average defensive teams.
Seattle Kraken: Breaking a Five-Game Losing Streak
On the other side, the Seattle Kraken are coming off a 5-4 overtime win against the Vancouver Canucks, which snapped their five-game losing streak. Seattle had struggled mightily during that stretch, scoring only six goals over the course of those five games. However, the win against Vancouver came with a dramatic comeback, as they erased a 4-1 deficit in the final period, aided by a strong individual performance from Jaden Schwartz. Schwartz scored two goals in the third period, while Vince Dunn contributed with two goals and an assist, playing a crucial role in the victory.
Despite the win, the Kraken’s struggles are still evident in their overall performance this season. Philipp Grubauer, the Kraken’s primary goaltender, has struggled to find consistency, posting a 3.66 GAA and an .873 save percentage over 14 starts. However, backup goaltender Joey Daccord has been a brighter spot with a 2.51 GAA and a .912 save percentage, keeping the team afloat in certain games.
As a team, Seattle is ranked 19th in goals allowed per game, conceding an average of 3.14 goals. Offensively, the Kraken are still below average, with only 2.84 goals per game (22nd in the NHL). Mark Giordano and Yanni Gourde have provided leadership, but the lack of consistent scoring from secondary players continues to hamper their chances of competing in a tough division.
Conclusion
This is expected to be a close, hard-fought contest, but Utah’s defense and goaltending may just prove to be enough to snap their losing streak. With Seattle still trying to find consistency, Utah may have the upper hand if they can exploit the Kraken’s defensive weaknesses and special teams struggles.
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