Two clubs that are squaring off for the fourth and final time this season, the Arizona Coyotes and the Los Angeles Kings collide at the Staples Center for a Pacific Division showdown. The match will get started at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 29, and it can be caught live on Fox Arizona Plus.
Arizona Coyotes at Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles (-260) is currently favored over Arizona (+220), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-125 to bet the under, +105 for the over).
Los Angeles is 42-35 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 2.1 units this year. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Pacific Division so far in this young season, is a welcome improvement compared to what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (39-43). Of its 77 regular season matches, 40 have gone under the total, while 34 have gone over and just three have pushed. The team is 20-17 SU at home this season.
The Kings have converted on 20.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked first overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 84.9 percent of all penalties.
The Kings, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 2.8 per game over their past five outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 6.0 minutes per game over their last 10 matchups, overall.
Boasting a .923 save percentage and 27.1 saves per game, Jonathan Quick (31-29-2) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Kings this season. If head coach John Stevens decides to rest him, however, Los Angeles might turn to Darcy Kuemper (10-9-9 record, .932 save percentage, 2.10 goals against average).
Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty will both lead the offensive attack for the Kings. Kopitar (88 points) has tallied 34 goals and 54 assists and has recorded two or more points on 23 separate occasions this year. Doughty has nine goals and 46 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 40 contests.
On the other side of the ice, Arizona is 27-50 straight up (SU) and has lost 16.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 77 regular season contests, 40 of its games have gone under the total, while 35 have gone over and just one has pushed. As an away team, the Coyotes are 12-26 SU.
The Coyotes have converted on just 16.9 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 20th overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Arizona’s skaters have been called for penalties only 3.4 times per game in total this season, 3.8 per game over their last five outings total, and 3.8 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Antti Raanta (2.33 goals against average and .927 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Arizona. Raanta is averaging 27.1 saves per game and has 20 wins, 24 losses, and six OT losses to his credit.
Clayton Keller (23 goals, 39 assists) has been one of the top offensive facilitators for the visiting Coyotes.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Los Angeles Kings Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Kings, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
69.0 percent of Los Angeles’ wins have come by two or more goals (the team is 29-17 overall in such games) while 40.7 percent of Arizona’s wins have come by two goals or more (11-29 overall in such games).
Power plays and penalty kills may prove to be even more critical than usual in tonight’s matchup. The Coyotes are 11-21 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 18-35 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Kings are 16-11 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 29-19 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Arizona is 2-5 in games decided by a shootout this season while Los Angeles is 2-1 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of Los Angeles’ last five games.
Los Angeles is ranked 20th this season with 10.0 giveaways per game. That figure has trended lower lately, however, as it’s averaged 7.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 5.8 giveaways over its last five.
Arizona has averaged 7.4 giveaways over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 7.2 giveaways per game (the fifth-fewest in the league).
This game features two of the more aggressive teams in the league. Arizona skaters have accounted for the fourth-most hits in the league (24.5 per game) and the Kings have handed the fourth-most (25.8).
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