In a game featuring two of the leagues top penalty-kill units, the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks take the ice at the Honda Center for a divisional showdown. NBC Sports Network will showcase the game, which gets underway at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, January 19.
Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks Odds
Los Angeles is 24-21 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 45 regular season contests, 22 of its games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just three have pushed. The Kings are 13-9 SU as an away team in 2017-18.
Los Angeles has converted on just 16.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. Having said that, it has the second-best penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off a whopping 86.8 percent of its penalties.
The Kings, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.2 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, and 5.0 per game over its last five road outings. The teams had to defend opponent power plays 10.6 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Averaging 27.9 saves per game with a .924 save percentage, Jonathan Quick (19-17-2) has been the primary option in goal for Los Angeles this year. Quick did just play last night, however, so Los Angeles may decide to rest him and turn to Darcy Kuemper instead (5-6-3 record, .931 save percentage, 2.21 goals against average).
The visiting Kings have relied on Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown heavily this season. Kopitar (46 points) has tallied 18 goals and 28 assists, and has recorded multiple points 12 times. Brown has 15 goals and 17 assists to his name, and has logged at least one point in 22 games.
Anaheim is 21-25 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 46 regular season contests, 29 of its games have gone under the total, while 16 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 11-11 SU at home this season.
The Ducks have converted on just 16.9 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Ducks players have been called for penalties 4.7 times per game in total this season, and 6.2 per game over their past five contests. The teams had to kill penalties a whopping 15.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
John Gibson (29.9 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for the Ducks. Gibson has 15 wins, 20 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit and has maintained a .922 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average this season.
Rickard Rakell (16 goals, 17 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the Ducks.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Anaheim Ducks Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Kings, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Seven of Anaheim’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals. The club is 5-2 overall in those games.
- Los Angeles has allowed 2.4 goals per game overall this year, but is allowing 3.8 goals per contest over its five-game losing skid.
- The Kings are 9-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 16-9 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total.
- Anaheim (2-5 in shootouts) has more experience this season in games decided by shootout. Los Angeles, however, is undefeated in two shootouts this year.
- The under has hit in three of Anaheim’s last five outings.
- Anaheim has averaged 15.2 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 10.1 giveaways per game (ranked 21st in the NHL).
- Los Angeles is ranked 22nd this season with 10.4 giveaways per game. That figures trended down lately, however, as the teams averaged 8.6 giveaways over its last 10 games and 9.4 giveaways over its last five.
- This game features a couple of the tougher teams in the league. Los Angeles skaters have given out the leagues second-most hits per game (25.6) while the Ducks have registered the eighth-most (23.4).
