Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and the Chicago Blackhawks will face off against Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center in a Western Conference showdown. The opening face-off is at 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 30, and it can be watched live on NBC Sports Chicago.
Chicago Blackhawks at Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles (+115) is playing the role of underdog to Chicago (-135) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -120 for the over and +100 for the under.
Chicago is 34-43 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 48 of its games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and just four have pushed. As the road team in 2018-19, the Hawks are 17-22 SU.
Chicago has converted on 20.7 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 32nd in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off only 73.1 percent of all penalties..
Averaging 27.8 saves per game with a .908 save percentage, Corey Crawford (14-22-3) has been the top option in goal for Chicago this year. If head coach Jeremy Colliton chooses to rest him, however, Chicago may turn to Cam Ward (14-16-4 record, .893 save percentage, 3.72 goals against average).
Los Angeles is 28-49 straight up (SU) and has lost 17.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 38 of its outings have gone under the total, while 36 have gone over and just three have pushed. This year, the team’s 15-23 SU as the home team.
The Kings have converted on just 16.0 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom 5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 30th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Jonathan Quick (25.8 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the crease for the Kings. Quick has 15 wins, 29 losses, and seven overtime losses to his name and has maintained a pedestrian 3.31 goals against average and a fairly-weak .890 save percentage this season.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angeles Kings Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Penalties and power plays could prove to be even more critical than usual tonight. The Blackhawks are 11-18 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 26-33 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, in total. The Kings are 10-20 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 21-35 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Two of Los Angeles’ last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 3-4 overall in shootouts this year.
- The total has gone under in four of Chicago’s last five outings.
- Chicago has averaged 12.4 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 9.8 giveaways per game (ranked 13th overall).
- Los Angeles skaters have averaged 10.0 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 10.4 giveaways per game (ranked 18th overall).
- The Kings this season have handed the 12th-most hits in the league (23.4 per game), but that average has jumped up to 27.8 over their last five games as the home team.
