The Ottawa Senators and the Los Angeles Kings take the ice at the Staples Center in a cross-continent showdown. Fox Sports West will broadcast the matchup, which gets going at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 7.
Ottawa Senators at Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles is 18-11 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 5.0 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked fifth in the NHL in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 39-43 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. 16 of the team’s 29 contests have gone under the total, while 11 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team’s 8-7 SU at home this year.
The Kings have converted on 17.0 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated first overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 89.6 percent of all penalties.
The Kings, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 3.3 per game over their past ten matchups. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays for just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
With a .929 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Jonathan Quick (14-9-1) has been the best goalkeeper for the Kings this year. If head coach John Stevens decides to give him the night off, however, the team could roll with Darcy Kuemper (4-4-4 record, .944 save percentage, 1.72 goals against average).
The Kings will continue to look for leadership out of Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. Kopitar (34 points) has tallied 15 goals and 19 assists and has recorded two or more points on eight different occasions this year. Brown has 11 goals and 13 assists to his name and has notched a point in 15 games.
Over on the other bench, Ottawa is 9-16 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 25 regular season outings, 14 of its games have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and none have pushed. The Senators are 5-6 SU as the away team this season.
The Senators have converted on just 16.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 26th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Ottawa’s players have been called for penalties only 3.6 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Craig Anderson (23.8 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Ottawa. Anderson has eight wins, 12 losses, and three OT losses to his credit, while registering a .895 save percentage and 3.06 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Senators will be Mark Stone (14 goals, 11 assists) and Mike Hoffman (nine goals, 11 assists).
Ottawa Senators vs. Los Angeles Kings Betting Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Kings, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
A majority (72.2 percent) of Los Angeles’ wins have been by two or more goals, and the team is 13-3 overall in such games. 4 of Ottawa’s 9 wins (44.4 percent) have been decided by two or more goals.
The Senators are 4-11 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 6-10 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
Ottawa (1-4 in shootouts this season) has more experience in games decided by shootout. Los Angeles, however, emerged victorious in both of its shootouts this year.
The under has hit in three of Los Angeles’ last five outings.
Los Angeles has allowed just 1.3 goals per game (while scoring 3.8 per contest) over its six-game win streak.
Los Angeles is ranked 23rd this season with 10.8 giveaways per game. That figure has improved, however, as the team’s averaged 9.1 giveaways over its last 10 games and 6.4 giveaways over its last five.
Ottawa has averaged 9.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 10.0 giveaways per game (ranked 17th in the NHL).
This game features a couple of the tougher teams in the league. Ottawa skaters have accounted for the league’s 10th-most hits per game (22.6) and the Kings have handed the fifth-most (24.3).
