The Staples Center will be hosting a Western Conference tilt as the Colorado Avalanche pay a visit to the Los Angeles Kings. The action gets started at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 21 and it can be viewed live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings Odds
With a moneyline of -205, Los Angeles comes into the contest as the substantial favorite. The line for Colorado sits at +175, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-120 for the under, +100 for the over).
Los Angeles is 21-14 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 4.8 units this season. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Pacific Division so far in the early season, is a welcome improvement compared to what the team did during last year’s regular season (39-43). Through 35 regular season contests, 17 of the team’s games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just three have pushed. The team’s 10-7 SU at home this season.
The Kings have converted on just 16.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 26th overall in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked second overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 86.6 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Kings have been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, 4.4 per game over their past five matchups total, and 3.6 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to defend opposition power plays for just 8.4 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 28.0 saves per game with a .927 save percentage, Jonathan Quick (16 wins, 11 losses, and one OT loss) has been the best goalkeeper for the Kings this season. If head coach John Stevens chooses to rest him, however, the team might turn to 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 (39 points) has put up 17 goals and 22 assists and has recorded two or more points 11 times this year. Brown has 12 goals and 16 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 18 games.
Over on the other bench, Colorado is 16-17 straight up (SU) and has earned 2.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 20 of its outings have gone over the total, while 12 have gone under and just one has pushed. The Avalanche are 6-10 SU as the away team this season.
The Avalanche have converted on 18.2 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 14th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.7 percent of all penalties.
Colorado’s players have been penalized 4.2 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Semyon Varlamov (.908 save percentage and 3.03 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Colorado. Varlamov is averaging 29.0 saves per game and has 11 wins, 10 losses, and one overtime loss to his credit.
For the visiting Avalanche, the offense will run through Nathan MacKinnon, who’s got 24 assists and 15 goals this season.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Colorado is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Los Angeles is 2-0 in shootouts.
The total has gone over in three of Los Angeles’ last five games.
Over Colorado’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
The Kings this season have tallied the third-most hits per game (25.0).
