A couple of the least-penalized clubs in the league, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Los Angeles Kings collide at the Staples Center. This East-West matchup gets underway at 10:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 2 and it is being televised live on Fox Sports West.
Carolina Hurricanes at Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles (+120) is entering this one as the underdog to Carolina (-140), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-125 under, +105 over).
Carolina is 12-13 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 25 regular season matches, 17 of its games have gone under the total, while eight have gone over and none have pushed. The Canes are 5-6 SU on the road in 2018-19.
Carolina has converted on just 16.5 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 22nd out of 31 teams, and it has successfully killed off 77.3 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Carolina has been called for penalties just 3.4 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over its last ten. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 5.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.9 saves per game with a .930 save percentage, Curtis McElhinney (7-3-1) has been the top option in goal for Carolina this year. If it chooses to rest him, however, the team might go with Scott Darling (2-5-1 record, .892 save percentage, 3.14 goals against average).
The visiting Hurricanes have relied heavily on Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen this season. Aho (26 points) is up to seven goals and 19 assists, and has recorded multiple points five times. Teravainen has five goals and 13 assists to his credit (and has logged at least one point in 14 games).
On the other bench, Los Angeles is 9-17 straight up (SU) and has lost 10.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 26 regular season outings, 14 of its games have gone under the total, while 11 have gone over and just one has pushed. This year, the team is 5-9 SU at home.
Los Angeles has converted on just 15.2 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places it in the bottom overall among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is also ranked 30th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 72.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
The Kings have been penalized only 3.4 times per game this season, and 2.4 per game over their past five games. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 6.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jack Campbell has stopped 25.0 shots per game as the primary option in goal for Los Angeles. Campbell has five wins and eight losses to his name and has maintained a 2.33 goals against average and a .923 save percentage this year.
The Kings offense will be led by Anze Kopitar (seven goals, 10 assists).
Carolina Hurricanes at Los Angeles Kings Free Picks
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Trends
The total has gone under in four of Carolina’s last five games.
Carolina has attempted 38.9 shots per game overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 31.2 in its last five road games.
The Kings are 4-8 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 6-12 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total.
Los Angeles is ranked 31st in the league with 4.5 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as it has forced 5.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.2 takeaways over its last five.
One of the best at pressuring opposing teams, Carolina is ranked first in the NHL this season with 11.9 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as the team has averaged 14.3 takeaways over its last 10 games and 15.6 takeaways over its last five.
+++++
