In their first head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings collide at the Staples Center for an East-West tilt. The first puck will drop at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 18, and fans at home are able to see it live on NBC Sports Network.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles (-130) is currently the favorite over Pittsburgh (+110), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under). Those lines have shifted after initially opening at -110 for both.
Los Angeles is 24-20 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.8 units this year. That early-season winning percentage is a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during last year’s regular season (39-43). Through 44 regular season outings, 22 of the team’s games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just three have pushed. This year, the team’s 11-11 SU at home.
The Kings have converted on just 17.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated first overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 87.1 percent of all penalties.
The Kings, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.1 times per game overall this season, 4.2 per game over their past five outings total, and 4.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to kill penalties for 10.6 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Averaging 27.9 saves per game with a .924 save percentage, Jonathan Quick (19-16-2) has been the primary option in goal for Los Angeles this year. If head coach John Stevens chooses to rest him, however, the team might roll with Darcy Kuemper (5-6-6 record, .931 save percentage, 2.21 goals against average).
The Kings will continue relying on leadership from Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. Kopitar (45 points) has tallied 18 goals and 27 assists and has recorded multiple points in 12 different games this year. Brown has 15 goals and 17 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 22 games.
On the other bench, Pittsburgh is 24-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 23 of its contests have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the visiting team so far, the Penguins are 9-15 SU.
The Penguins enter the matchup with the first-best power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve found the net on 27.1 percent of their extra-man advantages in the 2017-18 season. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.8 percent of all penalties.
Pittsburgh’s players have been penalized 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 3.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Matt Murray (.903 save percentage and 2.93 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Pittsburgh. Murray is averaging 24.7 saves per game and has 17 wins, 14 losses, and one overtime loss to his credit.
For the visiting Penguins, the offense will be facilitated by Phil Kessel (21 goals, 33 assists) and Sidney Crosby (17 goals, 32 assists).
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Los Angeles Kings Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Kings, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Los Angeles is 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while Pittsburgh is 2-1 in shootouts.
The total has gone over in three of Los Angeles’ last five outings.
Pittsburgh’s attempted 34.7 shots per game overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 32.4 in its last five road games.
Los Angeles has allowed 2.4 goals per game overall this year, but is allowing 4.0 goals per contest over its four-game losing streak.
This game features two of the more physical defenses in the league. Pittsburgh skaters have accounted for the league’s fifth-most hits per game (24.2) and the Kings have tallied the second-most (25.4).
