Chicago Blackhawks vs Seattle Kraken Picks and Predictions March 18th 2025

Blackhawks Aim for Rare Home Win Streak as Kraken Visit

The Chicago Blackhawks (20-38-9, 49 points) have had a rough season, sitting near the bottom of the NHL standings. However, they have a golden opportunity to achieve a rare milestone on Tuesday—winning consecutive home games for the first time in three months.

After enduring a winless four-game road trip, the Blackhawks return to the United Center looking to build on their 4-3 overtime victory over the Utah Hockey Club on March 7. A win against the Seattle Kraken (29-34-5, 63 points) would give Chicago its first home win streak since December, when they defeated the Islanders, Capitals, and Kraken.

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Despite their struggles, the Blackhawks remain competitive at home. But their road woes have been alarming, losing 23 of their past 26 away games. Their recent road trip included an overtime loss to Nashville, followed by multi-goal defeats against Colorado, San Jose, and Vancouver.

Their 6-2 loss to Vancouver on Saturday highlighted their defensive struggles, as they fell behind 3-0 before defenseman Alex Vlasic finally put them on the board.

“I don’t know what it is, but we just can’t seem to put it together long enough,” defenseman Connor Murphy said. “Maybe it’s recognizing how important each shift is as the game gets going.”

With the season winding down, Chicago will look to tighten up defensively while continuing to develop its young talent.

Blackhawks’ Rookies Gaining Experience

While victories have been hard to come by, Chicago has still had moments worth celebrating. Tuesday marks the home debut for rookie defenseman Artyom Levshunov, who picked up his first career NHL point with an assist in Saturday’s game against Vancouver.

Levshunov, the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, has shown glimpses of his potential, and his development will be a major focus for the Blackhawks as they rebuild for the future.

“To do that here in the NHL,” Levshunov said about his first point, “I’m so excited.”

Seattle Kicks Off Road Trip With Playoff Hopes Fading

The Seattle Kraken enter this matchup on the outside looking in when it comes to the NHL Western Conference Wild-Card Race. Sitting at 63 points, they are still mathematically alive but face an uphill battle to get back into contention.

Seattle has been playing .500 hockey since March began, with their most recent stretch including an overtime win and an overtime loss during a three-game homestand.

On Sunday, the Kraken took an early 2-0 lead against the NHL-best Winnipeg Jets before allowing three unanswered goals in a 3-2 defeat.

“They’re the best team in the league with their record,” coach Dan Bylsma said about the Jets. “We’ve played them tight all season, and each game was decided late.”

Despite their struggles, the Kraken have an opportunity to clinch the season series against Chicago after both teams earned home victories earlier in the season.

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Rookie Jani Nyman Making an Impact for Seattle

One bright spot for the Kraken has been the emergence of rookie forward Jani Nyman. The 2022 second-round pick has made an immediate impact, scoring two power-play goals in his first three NHL games, including one in Sunday’s loss to Winnipeg.

Bylsma has been impressed with the young winger’s performance:

“Clearly, (we) got a good picture of what he can do and what he can be,” Bylsma said. “It’s not just the shot on the power play that we’ve seen a couple of times. He had some good time in the offensive zone with the puck, making plays. It’s really good to see from him in another game.”

Seattle’s power play has been inconsistent this season, but the addition of Nyman has provided a much-needed spark. If he continues to produce, he could become a key piece for the Kraken moving forward.

Betting Insights and Season Series

The Blackhawks and Kraken split their first two meetings, with each team winning on home ice. Seattle will be looking to clinch the season series, while Chicago aims to build momentum at home.

• Seattle’s strength: More offensive depth, but struggles with consistency.
• Chicago’s edge: Home-ice advantage and a chance to build on their previous win over Utah.

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Final Thoughts

Can Chicago secure back-to-back home wins for the first time since December, or will Seattle take control of the season series? With both teams looking to close out the season on a high note, expect a competitive battle at the United Center.