The Staples Center is the site for a divisional tilt as the San Jose Sharks pay a visit to the City of Angels to take on the Los Angeles Kings. It’s the fourth and last time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. Sportsnet will showcase the game, and the action gets underway at 4 p.m. ET on Monday, January 15.
San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles heads into the contest as the favorite with a moneyline of -135. The line for San Jose sits at +115, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -140 for the under and +120 for the over.
The Kings are 24-19 straight up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 1.9 units this season. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Pacific Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 39-43 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. Through 43 regular season outings, 21 of the teams games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just three have pushed. The teams 11-10 SU at home this year.
Los Angeles has converted on just 17.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that puts the team in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked second overall, and it’s successfully killed off 87.0 percent of all penalties.
Los Angeles, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.2 times per game overall this season, and 5.1 per game over its last ten contests. The teams had to kill penalties for 11.0 minutes per game over its last five home outings.
Sporting a .924 save percentage and 27.9 saves per game, Jonathan Quick (19-16-2) has been the top option in goal for the Kings this season. If head coach John Stevens chooses to rest him, however, the Kings could roll with Darcy Kuemper (5-5-5 record, .934 save percentage, 2.11 goals against average).
The Kings will continue looking for offensive production via Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. Kopitar (45 points) has produced 18 goals and 27 assists and has recorded two or more points 12 times this year. Brown has 15 goals and 17 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 22 games.
Over on the other bench, San Jose is 22-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 41 regular season outings, 26 of its games have gone under the total, while 14 have gone over and just one has pushed. As a road team so far, San Jose is 9-11 SU.
San Jose has scored on 22.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places it in the top-five among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked second overall and it’s successfully defended 84.2 percent of all penalties.
San Jose’s skaters have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their past five outings. The teams been forced to defend opponent power plays just 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Martin Jones (24.9 saves per game) has been the main choice in goal for San Jose. Jones has 14 wins, 15 losses, and five OT losses to his credit, while registering a .911 save percentage and 2.65 goals against average this year.
Brent Burns (seven goals, 26 assists) has been one of the most vital playmaking threats for the visiting Sharks.
San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Kings, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The total has gone over in four of Los Angeles last five games.
- The extra-man advantage may be extremely important in the outcome of this matchup. The Sharks are 8-12 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 12-14 when they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Kings are 9-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 16-8 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Two of San Jose’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- Los Angeles is ranked 32nd in the NHL this season with 4.9 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down recently, however, as the team has averaged 3.9 takeaways over its last 10 games and 3.0 takeaways over its last five.
- One of the best at pressuring opposing puckhandlers, San Jose is ranked third overall with 10.1 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down lately, however, as it’s managed 7.2 takeaways over its last 10 games and 7.4 takeaways over its last five.
- San Jose may hold an advantage if this one comes down to the wire. The teams 11-7 in games decided by one goal, while Los Angeles is 9-12 in such games.
