🏒 Kings vs. Kraken Prediction & Odds: NHL Picks Today (April 13)

The Los Angeles Kings can all but secure a playoff spot tonight with a win tonight over the Seattle Kraken, who have already been eliminated from postseason contention. However, the Kraken have won five of the last six meetings between the clubs and would love to make life difficult for their Pacific Division rivals as the Kings try to fend off Nashville for the final wild-card spot in the West.

Our Kings vs. Kraken prediction is backing a veteran LA squad to get the job done on the road as a -142 betting favorite. We also share a score prediction and a favorite player prop bet for tonight's NHL on ESPN matchup, which gets underway at 9:30 p.m. ET at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena.

🏒 Kings vs. Kraken picks & odds today: April 13

See all of our experts' NHL picks based on the latest NHL odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

Total wagered: 2.2 units | Max profit: 1.82 units

💰 Kings vs. Kraken prediction & best bet

Kings moneyline (-142)

The Kings are peaking down the stretch, going 6-1-3 and ranking third in goal differential in their last 10 games. LA is doing it with defense, holding seven of its last nine opponents to 27 shots or fewer.

The Kraken should be a bit dispirited after missing the playoffs for the fourth time in the franchise's five-year history. Seattle is also dealing with injuries to several goaltenders.

But Seattle is still playing sound defensive hockey, which keeps me from looking towards the puck line. The -142 moneyline price at FanDuel is value in a game I'd play up to -160.

Score prediction: Kings 3, Kraken 1

🔥 Best Kings vs. Kraken player prop bet

Artemi Panarin Over 2.5 shots (-144)

Panarin ranks second on the Kings in shot attempts over his last 10 games, collecting 10 points during that span. With six points coming in his last three games, he should be motivated to keep firing. He leads the team in unblocked attempts from low-danger areas over that span.

The Kraken have been among the league leaders in fewest expected goals allowed per 60 minutes of 5-on-5. However, Seattle's shot suppression has largely been from the high-danger areas. Seattle has allowed at least 30 shots on net in four of its last six games and six of its last nine.

Panarin's recent increase in shot volume and the Kraken's tendency to allow 30-plus shots have me seeing value on the Bread Man hitting the net at least three times tonight. FanDuel's -144 odds are the best available at the time of writing, and I'd make Panarin Over 2.5 shots a small play up to -160.

📊 Live Kings vs. Kraken odds

With the Kings still fighting for playoff positioning, the moneyline has predictably moved towards Los Angeles since opening in the -140 range, and we'll likely see the Kings become bigger favorites before puckdrop.

The more significant move came on the total, which dropped from 6 to 5.5 - although Under bettors may be able to find plus-money available.

🚀 Kings vs. Kraken same-game parlay

The Kings' moneyline and the Under 5.5 are both ways to capitalize on LA's tight defensive hockey at the moment. The Kings have given up just three goals in their last three games, and they've been shorthanded just three times over that span as well - a strong indication of LA's focus to improve its playoff positioning.

If LA does emerge victorious, we can expect Artemi Panarin to be involved. He provided the game's only goal Saturday against Edmonton and he's earned at least a point in 19 of the Kings' last 20 victories.

💡 How I'm betting Kings vs. Kraken

Follow all of our NHL analysis and expert predictions this season.

The most predictable thing about this game is that the result is more important to the Kings than to the Kraken. That doesn't necessarily mean that LA will win, but it does make me comfortable investing an entire unit backing the Kings in a spot where I think they have moneyline value.

If Seattle does pull off the upset tonight, I don't expect it to be high scoring. LA has allowed just three goals in its last three games, while the Kraken have been held to three regulation time goals or less in nine straight (if you exclude empty netters.) Playing a full unit on the Under 5.5 acts as a hedge against the Kings moneyline play, with a strong chance that we win them both.

Artemi Panarin's player prop bet is scaled down to one-fifth of a unit, since I'm not expecting many offensive fireworks from either team tonight.

📈 Kings vs. Kraken betting trends

🚑 Kings vs. Kraken injuries

📺 How to watch Kings vs. Kraken

• Date: Monday, April 13
• Puck drop: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle)
• TV: ESPN