Welcome back to another NHL Prediction. Each day, our writers here at Last Word on Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out. For this edition, we will look at the Anaheim Ducks taking on the Seattle Kraken. Don’t forget to check out more NHL Predictions, as our writers continue this series throughout the 2025–26 season.
NHL Predictions
Anaheim Ducks vs Seattle Kraken
Head-to-Head: Ducks 0 – 0 Kraken
Time: 10:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: KHN; KING 5; Victory+; KONG; ESPN+
Opening Night Storylines
Two Pacific Division teams with similar records last season meet in the Emerald City, but their trajectories could not be more different. The Anaheim Ducks enter opening night with a sense of renewal under Joel Quenneville, who takes the bench for his first regular-season game as head coach since joining the organisation. Across the ice, Lane Lambert begins his tenure with the Seattle Kraken, inheriting a veteran roster eager to prove that 2024–25’s regression was an anomaly rather than a trend.
The Ducks’ front office made clear over the summer that the rebuild phase is over. The addition of Chris Kreider, a proven scorer and leader, signals Anaheim’s intent to compete for a playoff spot. The team’s youthful core, led by Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, and Jackson LaCombe, has grown another year older and stronger. With a healthy blue line and a goaltender in Lukas Dostal ready to take the next step, Anaheim finally feels positioned to play meaningful games beyond March.
Meanwhile, Seattle is trying to rediscover its 2023 form, when structure and forechecking efficiency made it one of the league’s toughest teams to play against. Last season, however, the Kraken struggled to generate sustained offence, finishing bottom half in goals per game (2.99) and power play (18.9%). Lambert’s arrival should spark tactical changes, particularly in how the Kraken transition out of their zone and support the puck carrier through the neutral ice.
Expect both benches to show some early emotion. The first few shifts could look like playoff hockey rather than a season opener.
Anaheim Ducks Storyline
Few teams in the league had a more eventful summer than the Ducks. Longtime netminder John Gibson was moved to Detroit, clearing the way for Dostal and veteran Petr Mrazek to form the new tandem. Trevor Zegras’ departure to Philadelphia brought in Ryan Poehling and draft capital, while bringing in Mikael Granlund helps the forward group.
On defence, Anaheim is much younger and more mobile. With Cam Fowler now in St. Louis, the Ducks’ blue line belongs to Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger. LaCombe, fresh off signing the richest contract in team history, has blossomed into a poised two-way defender. Mintyukov’s offensive instincts make him a breakout candidate in Quenneville’s puck-possession system.
Up front, the Kreider acquisition changes Anaheim’s offensive makeup. His net-front presence on the power play should help fix a unit that ranked last in the league (11.8%). McTavish, who quietly scored 22 goals last season, will anchor the top line and take on heavier matchups, while Carlsson’s creative playmaking gives Anaheim’s middle six a new dynamic. Moreover, Frank Vatrano still brings pop from the weak side, while Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke add youthful ceiling. Anaheim’s opening-roster note highlights just how young and fast this club is.
The Ducks won 35 games a year ago despite ranking 32nd in both power play and faceoff percentage — a sign that even modest improvement in those areas could lead to meaningful gains.
Seattle Kraken Storyline
Lambert’s mandate is straightforward: restore the relentless identity that defined Seattle’s second-year surge. Consequently, expect a heavier emphasis on layered support through the neutral zone and forward backcheck discipline to cut rushes against. The Kraken have decent depth at forward with Stephenson down the middle, Jared McCann for finishing, and Matty Beniers for two-way tempo.
On defence, Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson remains the anchor pair, Ryan Lindgren brings bite and PK reliability, and Brando Montour jump-starts exits when healthy. Ryker Evans’s absence to start complicates the left side, but Jamie Oleksiak and Josh Mahura deliver minutes and reach.
Ultimately, this all funnels to the crease. Joey Daccord earned the No. 1 job last season and projects to start here; Philipp Grubauer provides experienced cover. If Daccord holds form, Seattle’s shot volume can translate into territorial pressure without trading chances.
Prediction
Books have Seattle as a slight favourite (roughly -120 to -125) with a 5.5 total for the over; most projection models sit near 51–55% Kraken. The analytics paint this as a near toss-up. MoneyPuck gives Seattle a slight edge (51.6%), while a 100,000-game simulation projects a 53.5% Kraken win probability with a median score of 3–3 headed to overtime. Yet, on opening night, emotion and execution often outweigh probability, and Anaheim’s combination of youthful hunger and new veteran leadership could prove decisive.
Expect Quenneville to deploy McTavish and Kreider heavily at even strength, while Dostal’s calm presence keeps Seattle’s volume shooting at bay. A late push from the Kraken should make things interesting, but Anaheim adds an empty-netter to seal the win.
NHL Prediction: Ducks 4, Kraken 2
Season prediction record: 0 – 0
Prop Bets of the Night
We round out NHL Predictions with a look at a few smart plays for opening night. Since we are predicting the Ducks to win, take a look at the moneyline (+105). Chris Kreider’s anytime goal (+250) also stands out as an intriguing target and great value. His net-front instincts are tailor-made for Anaheim’s revamped power play, which now runs through Quenneville’s classic down-low rotation and point-shot traffic. Lastly, take a look at Anaheim over 3.5 goals (+160). The Ducks usually play well in season openers, and it takes a few games for teams to settle into their defensive structure.
Season betting record: 0 – 0 (+0.00 units)
Main Photo Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
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