Golden Knights vs. Kraken Expert Pick - April 13th, 2023
GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. KRAKEN EXPERT PICK - APRIL 13TH, 2023 - This marks the end of the regular season, and one team’s motivation is clear in this matchup.
Vegas has a simple equation: win or get to overtime, and the Golden Knights wrap up the Pacific Division and the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference. Earning the top seed would give Vegas home-ice advantage until the Stanley Cup Finals, and the Golden Knights would get the most manageable first-round series in facing Winnipeg.
Seattle’s motivation is murkier. The Kraken know they’re in the playoffs, but their matchup is yet to be determined.
Right now, they sit in the first wild card spot, which would keep them away from Vegas and Edmonton until the conference finals.
Granted, they’d have to face Colorado and then either Dallas or Minnesota to get there, but on paper, that’s a more winnable matchup than either the Golden Knights or the Oilers.
Think Twice
And that’s why Seattle might want to think twice about winning this game.
If the Kraken do win and Los Angeles loses to Anaheim (which is admittedly unlikely), Seattle would move into the Pacific Division’s No. 3 spot. Instead of Colorado, the Kraken would either face an Edmonton team that’s beaten them three times and hit them for an average of five goals per night, or they’d have to beat Vegas again and do it in a seven-game series.
Unless the Kraken are really scared of the Avalanche — which they shouldn’t be, given that they beat Colorado two out of three — this might be a case where they back off and start preparing for that matchup.
