Kraken vs. Devils Thursday NHL injury report, odds, pick: Leading scorers Andre Burakovsky, Jack Hughes both out injured
Both Seattle and New Jersey will be without its leading scorer tonight.
The Seattle Kraken are the fifth-highest scoring team in the NHL this season at 3.54 goals per game and the New Jersey Devils are sixth at 3.50 per game, but Under 6.5 goals for their Thursday matchup in Newark is now a -120 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook with each team's leading scorers, Andre Burakovsky and All-Star Jack Hughes, are out with injuries.
In Seattle's first game out of the break, a 4-0 loss at the Islanders on Tuesday, Burakovsky left during the first shift and was placed on injured reserve today. The former Colorado Avalanche left wing was signed to a five-year, $27.5 million free-agent contract last summer and has lived up to it with 13 goals and 39 points in 49 games. He's averaging a career-high 16 minutes and 33 seconds of ice time per game. He's one of six skaters for Seattle with at least 30 points.
Seattle did active activate defenseman Justin Schultz (5G, 19A) off injured reserve ahead of tonight's game after he missed six with an undisclosed injury. While the Kraken haven't named their goaltender, it should be Martin Jones (23-8-3, 2.86 GAA, .895 SV). Jones has surrendered at least three goals in five of his last six games, including four at the Islanders on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old Hughes, the first overall pick in the 2019 draft, is ninth in the league with 67 point and third with 35 goals in a breakout campaign. He's week-to-week with an upper-body issue – NHL teams do not give specifics when it comes to injuries.
Hughes apparently was injured during practice Wednesday. He had two goals in Monday's overtime win over Vancouver and was on a nine-game points streak with a whopping total of 18 in that span, scoring nine goals and adding nine assists. His absence is a huge loss for New Jersey. The Devils slipped from -155 favorites against Seattle to -130 without him. With Hughes out, Alexander Holtz will draw into the lineup. Thursday's game will be his first since Jan. 7. Defenseman Brendan Smith (5A) also will sit tonight.
Mackenzie Blackwood (6-4-0, 3.21 GAA) is in net tonight. He faced the Kraken on Jan. 19 and took the 4-3 overtime loss, stopping 36 of 40 shots. Burakovsky had the OT winner. Seattle's Ryan Donato scored two goals and posted three assists. Hughes had an assist.
NHL pick: Under 6.5 goals
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