The Staples Center is the site for a divisional matchup as the Calgary Flames visit the City of Angels to face the Los Angeles Kings. It’s the fourth and final time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. The action gets started at 10:30 p.m. ET on Monday, March 26, and you’ll be able to catch it live on Sportsnet West.
Calgary Flames vs. Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles (+170) is playing the role of underdog to Los Angeles (-200), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -130 under, +110 over.
The Kings are 41-35 straight up (SU) and have netted moneyline bettors 1.1 units this season. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Pacific Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 39-43 record from the 2016-17 season campaign. 39 of the team’s 76 games have gone under the total, while 34 have gone over and just three have pushed. The team is 19-17 SU at home this year.
Los Angeles has converted on 20.0 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked first overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.7 percent of all penalties.
As a team, LA has been penalized 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 3.0 per game over its last ten games. The team has had to kill penalties for just 6.2 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Averaging 27.2 saves per game with a .922 save percentage, Jonathan Quick (30-29-2) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Kings this season. If head coach John Stevens chooses to give him a breather, however, the Kings might go with Darcy Kuemper (10-9-9 record, .932 save percentage, 2.10 goals against average).
The Kings will continue looking for offensive production from Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Kopitar (86 points) has tallied 33 goals and 53 assists and has recorded two or more points in 23 different games this year. Doughty has nine goals and 46 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 40 games.
Over on the other bench, Calgary is 35-41 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 37 of its outings have gone over the total, while another 37 have gone under and just two have pushed. Calgary’s 20-19 SU as the visiting team this season.
Calgary has converted on just 16.7 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places it in the bottom-five overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 12th overall and it’s successfully defended 81.7 percent of all penalties.
Calgary’s players have been called for penalties 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.3 per game over their past ten contests. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Mike Smith (28.0 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Calgary. Smith owns a 25-28-6 record, while registering a .916 save percentage and 2.66 goals against average this year.
Johnny Gaudreau (23 goals, 59 assists) has been one of the primary playmakers on offense for the visiting Flames.
Calgary Flames at Los Angeles Kings Betting Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Flames, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Los Angeles is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Calgary is 2-5 in shootouts.
The total has gone under in three of Los Angeles’ last five outings.
Over Calgary’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-6 in those games).
The Kings this season have registered the third-most hits per game (25.8).
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