Two clubs that are facing each other for the fourth and final time this year, the Calgary Flames and the Los Angeles Kings take the ice at the Staples Center in a divisional showdown. Sportsnet West will showcase the matchup, which gets underway at 10:30 p.m. ET on Monday, March 26.
Calgary Flames vs. Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles comes into the game as the noticeable favorite with a moneyline of -200. The line for Calgary sits at +170, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -130 for the under and +110 for the over.
Los Angeles is 41-35 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.1 units this year. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Pacific Division so far in this young season, is a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during last year’s regular season (39-43). Out of the team’s 76 regular season contests, 39 of them have gone under the total, while 34 have gone over and just three have pushed. This season, the team’s 19-17 SU at home.
The Kings have converted on 20.0 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated first overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.7 percent of all penalties.
The Kings, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 3.0 per game over their past ten outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays for just 6.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, overall.
Boasting a .922 save percentage and 27.2 saves per game, Jonathan Quick (30-29-2) has been the top goalkeeper for the Kings this season. If head coach John Stevens decides to give him a breather, however, the team could turn to Darcy Kuemper (10-9-9 record, .932 save percentage, 2.10 goals against average).
The Kings will continue to look for leadership out of Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Kopitar (86 points) has tallied 33 goals and 53 assists and has recorded two or more points in 23 different games this year. Doughty has nine goals and 46 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 40 contests.
On the other bench, Calgary is 35-41 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 37 of its games have gone over the total, while another 37 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the visiting team, the Flames are 20-19 SU.
The Flames have converted on just 16.7 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the bottom-five overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 12th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Calgary’s players have been penalized 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.3 per game over their past ten outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Mike Smith (28.0 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Calgary. Smith has 25 wins, 28 losses, and six OT losses to his credit, while registering a .916 save percentage and 2.66 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Flames, the offense will run through Johnny Gaudreau, who’s got 59 assists and 23 goals this season.
Calgary Flames at Los Angeles Kings Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Calgary is 2-5 in games decided by a shootout this season while Los Angeles is 2-1 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in three of Los Angeles’ last five games.
- Over Calgary’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-6 in those games).
- The Kings this season have tallied the third-most hits per game (25.8).
