On Thursday, the Vancouver Canucks (17-10-8) face off against the Seattle Kraken (17-19-2) at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. Make sure you stay up to date with all the NHL action, with our expert NHL picks.

Seattle comes into this matchup on a two-game winning streak, but has dropped three of their last five games. In their 5-2 triumph over Utah, Seattle Kraken's Philipp Grubauer delivered a strong performance by stopping 28 shots, achieving a notable save percentage of .933. This season, Jared McCann has been the standout player for Seattle, leading the team with 28 points. Closely following him is Oliver Bjorkstrand, who has accumulated 26 points this season, making him the second-highest scorer on the team. McCann also holds the distinction of being Seattle’s top goal-scorer, having netted 13 goals so far this year. Chandler Stephenson has emerged as the team's leading playmaker, contributing 20 assists to Seattle's efforts this season. Over their last five games, the Kraken have struggled defensively, conceding an average of 4 goals per game, which has contributed to their current placement of third-to-last in the Pacific Division standings. As they prepare to face Vancouver at home, the Kraken aim to continue their positive momentum by securing a third consecutive victory. On average, Seattle manages to score 2.9 goals each game.

Vancouver enters this game on a one-game losing streak and has dropped four of their last five games prior to their game against Calgary. In a tough 5-4 overtime defeat against Seattle last Saturday, Vince Dunn was a standout performer for the Canucks, netting two goals and contributing an assist. This season, Quinn Hughes has been a key player for Vancouver, topping the team's scoring charts with an impressive 42 points. Close behind, Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland have both emerged as vital offensive assets, each accumulating 28 points to date. Jake DeBrusk has been Vancouver's most prolific goal-scorer, having found the back of the net 16 times so far. Meanwhile, Quinn Hughes is not only leading in points but also in assists, boasting a total of 34 assists this season. Over the past five games, the Canucks have struggled defensively, conceding an average of 3.8 goals per game, which has left them positioned fifth in the Pacific Division standings. Like their competitors in Seattle, the Canucks are eager to hit their stride and will strive to do so in their upcoming road game in Seattle. On average, Vancouver has been scoring 3.2 goals per game this season.

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