Seattle Kraken vs. Calgary Flames Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/12/2022

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Venue: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB

Where to watch: ROOT-NW, SN360

DraftKings: Flames -450, Kraken +330

BetMGM: Flames -450, Kraken +333

Caesars: Flames -435, Kraken +333

Kraken: 23-43-6 

Flames: 44-19-9

One way to at least ensure these final weeks run smoothly for the Calgary Flames is to line up easier opponents for them every few days. With the exception of the win against the Los Angeles Kings on April 4, it’s been a relatively easy time for the leaders of the Pacific Division over the last week.

And they’ll get another easy run-of-the-mill game on Tuesday to complete the home-and-home with the Seattle Kraken and look to inch closer to 100 points on the season.

The Flames have won four straight and are a handful of wins away from wrapping up the division title and home-ice advantage for potentially two rounds. Calgary won its fourth straight on Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena in a 4-1 win over the Kraken.

Noah Hanifin had four assists for the first time in his NHL career, and the Flames swept the four-game road trip with relative ease. Tyler Toffoli also scored, and Jacob Markstrom -- who is expected to get the start again in this matchup -- made 27 saves.

"It was a good night. Obviously big points for our team," Hanifin said. "Finishing the road trip off with a win, and I think there are definitely some things we can clean up as a team, especially the D-zone, but [Markstrom] had a great night for us, made some huge saves."

The Flames have made it a priority to get scoring when they can, led by Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm. But when guys like Blake Coleman can remember how to score, as he did Saturday for his first goal in 14 games, it’s a reminder of how deep the Calgary forward group is. That didn’t even mention Andrew Mangiapane’s career year.

"Anytime you sweep a road trip there's a lot of positives," Coleman said. "Most importantly, I think we got out of that rut. I think, for whatever reason, just a lot of home games and it felt a little bit stale. And we weren't playing our best hockey, and sometimes it's just good to get on the road, be around your teammates a little bit. Just kind of have that time together and kind of hunker down as a unit."

That’s why if you’re the Flames, you have to feel good about the way you’re playing right now no matter the opponent. Calgary went on the road and took care of business, which is not something a lot of teams can do. Even if Seattle is struggling at the rate it is, the Kraken will try to play better after going 0-for-5 on the power play against Calgary.

"Our power play was good, especially the latter ones," Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. "Once we got going and clicking in the second period … we didn't get the finished product. At the end of the day, that's what counts. We need to find the back of the net on one of those, but in terms of execution, getting in the zone, we did a lot of real good things."

Just not enough good things to sustain the first year for the Kraken, which has been mired in a disappointing expansion draft and disappointing goaltending altogether. But the most important news for Seattle is that first-ever draft pick Matty Beniers is expected to make his NHL debut for the Kraken after a run to the Frozen Four with Michigan.

Beniers, the No. 2 overall pick in this past summer’s draft, joins a long list of Michigan players expected to make their debuts this week.

"It's truly an honor to join the Kraken organization, officially, and I can't wait to get started," Beniers said. "Although we fell short of our goal, I loved my time with Michigan and am looking forward to the next step in my journey. Being drafted last summer was surreal. I'm excited to get to Seattle."

Beniers practiced at top-line center during practice, which will be his spot going forward, but while it’s going to be a jolt into the Seattle locker room, I don’t think it’s going to be enough to pull off the upset in Calgary. The Flames need points to ensure they don’t slip in the standings. Look for a rough welcome from Calgary for the rookie. Flames win 4-2

Kraken are 7-14 after a division game this season.

Kraken are 14-21 after allowing four goals or more in the previous game.

Flames are 13-9 after a division game this season.

Kraken:

Ryan Donato -- Matty Beniers -- Jordan Eberle

Daniel Sprong -- Morgan Geekie -- Joonas Donskoi

Victor Rask -- Yanni Gourde -- Kole Lind

Jared McCann -- Alex Wennberg -- Karson Kuhlman

Adam Larsson -- Vince Dunn

Will Borgen -- Carson Soucy

Jamie Oleksiak -- Cale Fleury

Philipp Grubauer

Flames:

Johnny Gaudreau -- Elias Lindholm -- Matthew Tkachuk

Andrew Mangiapane -- Mikael Backlund -- Tyler Toffoli

Dillon Dube -- Trevor Lewis -- Blake Coleman

Milan Lucic -- Ryan Carpenter -- Brett Ritchie

Rasmus Andersson -- Noah Hanifin

Christopher Tanev -- Connor Mackey

Michael Stone -- Juuso Valimaki

Jacob Markstrom

Points: Jared McCann -- 41

Goals: Jared McCann -- 25

Assists: Yanni Gourde -- 24

Goalie: Philipp Grubauer -- 16-29-5, 3.12 GAA, .891 SV%

Points: Johnny Gaudreau -- 99

Goals: Elias Lindholm -- 38

Assists: Johnny Gaudreau -- 65

Goalie: Jacob Markstrom -- 34-14-9, 2.16 GAA, .925 SV%