New York Islanders vs Seattle Kraken Picks and Predictions December 5th 2024

Kraken Aim to Build Winning Streak After Dominant Effort

The Seattle Kraken (10-13-2) are heading into Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders (10-10-4) on the heels of their most complete performance of the season. Tuesday night’s 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes was a much-needed response after a three-game skid where Seattle faltered against weaker division opponents.

The Kraken set the tone immediately against Carolina, with Jaden Schwartz scoring just 19 seconds into the game. The team never trailed, showcasing disciplined defense and limiting the Hurricanes—a high-powered offense—to just 19 shots.

“That was probably our best 60 [minutes] of the year,” Kraken coach Dan Bylsma said.

Seattle will look to carry that energy into the second game of their four-game East Coast road trip. Players like Eeli Tolvanen and Yanni Gourde, who both scored Tuesday, will be critical in maintaining offensive momentum.

Islanders Continue to Falter in Final Frames

The New York Islanders enter Thursday’s game looking for answers to their third-period woes. Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens marked their seventh loss this season when leading in the third period—the most in the NHL.

Despite a strong defensive effort and a standout performance by goaltender Ilya Sorokin, the Islanders let a 1-0 lead slip away in the final frame, with Nick Suzuki scoring the game-winner in overtime.

“It (stinks),” Islanders center Bo Horvat said of the loss. “I was in the right spot to get the rebound, and it just took a (bad) hop.”

New York’s inability to close games has been a season-long issue. While they’ve outscored opponents 43-32 in the first two periods, they’ve been outscored 44-22 in the third period and overtime. The Islanders will need to find consistency in finishing games to stay competitive in the Metropolitan Division.

Key Matchups

Seattle’s Defense vs. Islanders’ Third-Period Offense

The Kraken’s defense shined against Carolina, but can they maintain that discipline against an Islanders team desperate to solve its late-game issues?

Ilya Sorokin vs. Kraken Attack

Despite New York’s struggles, Sorokin remains one of the NHL’s elite goaltenders. Seattle’s balanced offensive effort will need to test him early and often.

Special Teams Battle

Seattle’s power play (19.2%) and penalty kill (75.4%) face an Islanders unit that has excelled at killing penalties (86.2%, 5th in NHL). This matchup could be pivotal in a close game.

What’s at Stake

• Kraken: A win would build momentum and help Seattle climb back into the Pacific Division race.
• Islanders: Victory would help stabilize a team that’s struggled to close out games and build confidence heading into a tough December schedule.

Check out our predictions on the NHL Metropolitan Division 

Prediction

The Kraken’s ability to play a full 60 minutes against Carolina suggests they’re turning a corner. Meanwhile, the Islanders’ third-period struggles remain a glaring issue. Seattle’s depth and confidence could be the difference in another tightly contested matchup.

Kraken 3, Islanders 2 (OT)