Squaring off for the final time this season, the Los Angeles Kings and the Detroit Red Wings clash at Little Caesars Arena. This East-West matchup gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, December 10, and it’s being shown live on Fox Sports Detroit Plus.
Los Angeles Kings at Detroit Red Wings Odds
With a -120 moneyline, Detroit heads into the contest as the favorite. The line for Los Angeles is standing at +100 and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. If gamblers want to play this game’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -105 money on the over and -115 on the under.
Earning 2.3 units for moneyline bettors, the Red Wings are 13-17 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a welcomed improvement compared to what the team did during last year’s regular season (30-52). Of the team’s 30 games this season, 15 have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and just one has pushed. The team’s 7-10 SU at home this year.
Detroit’s converted on 18.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.2 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Detroit has been called for penalties 4.3 times per game overall this season, and 5.0 per game over its past five games. The team has had to kill penalties for 10.4 minutes per contest over its last five home games.
Boasting a .920 save percentage and 30.4 saves per game, Jimmy Howard (nine wins, 11 losses, and four OT losses) has been the top option in goal for the Red Wings this year. If the Wings choose to give him a rest, however, the team could turn to Jonathan Bernier (4-8-8 record, .893 save percentage, 3.38 goals against average).
The Wings will continue to lean on the leadership from Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist. Larkin (28 points) has tallied 11 goals and 17 assists and has recorded multiple points seven times this year. Nyquist has seven goals and 20 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 18 contests.
Los Angeles has lost 10.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far and is currently 11-19 straight up (SU). Through 30 regular season matches, 16 of its games have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and just one has pushed. Los Angeles’ 4-8 SU as the visiting team this season.
Los Angeles has converted on just 14.9 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 28th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully defended 74.2 percent of all penalties.
Los Angeles’ skaters have been penalized only 3.4 times per game this season, 3.2 per game over their last five match ups total, and 2.8 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jack Campbell (2.33 goals against average and .923 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Los Angeles. Campbell is averaging 25.0 saves per game and owns a 5-8 record.
For the visiting Kings, the offense will be facilitated through Anze Kopitar (seven goals, 11 assists) and Drew Doughty (two goals, 15 assists).
Los Angeles Kings vs. Detroit Red Wings Betting Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner \u2013 Red Wings, O/U \u2013 Over
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their past five outings.
- The Kings are 5-8 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 8-14 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total.
- Two of Detroit’s past 10 contests have been decided by a shootout. The team is 0-2 in those games and 2-3 overall in shootouts this year.
- Detroit has averaged 4.4 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 6.3 takeaways per game (ranked 26th overall).
- Los Angeles skaters have created 7.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 4.4 takeaways per game (ranked 32nd in the league).
