In a game featuring two of the league’s very best penalty-kill units, the Los Angeles Kings and the Colorado Avalanche face off at the Pepsi Center in a Western Conference showdown. The puck drops at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 22, and you’ll be able to witness the game live on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche Odds
Colorado enters the contest as the favorite with a moneyline of -120. The line for Los Angeles sits at +100, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -110 money on the over and -110 for the under.
Earning moneyline bettors 12.7 units, the Avalanche are 40-33 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is a surprising turnaround from how the team performed during last year’s regular season (22-60). Through 73 regular season matches, 38 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and just seven have pushed. The team is 25-11 SU at home this year.
Colorado’s converted on 21.3 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked third overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.1 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Colorado has been whistled for penalties 4.1 times per game overall this season, 3.8 per game over its last five matchups total, and 4.4 per game over its last five at home. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for just 7.6 minutes per game over its last five matchups, in total.
With a .919 save percentage and 28.9 saves per game, Semyon Varlamov (24-23-6) has been the top option in goal for the Avalanche this year. If head coach Jared Bednar decides to rest him, however, the team may turn to Jonathan Bernier (18-13-13 record, .914 save percentage, 2.81 goals against average).
The Avs will continue looking for leadership via Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. MacKinnon (91 points) is up to 38 goals and 53 assists and has recorded multiple points on 25 different occasions this year. Rantanen has 26 goals and 53 assists to his name and has notched a point in 46 contests.
On the other bench, Los Angeles is 40-34 straight up (SU) and has netted 1.4 units for moneyline bettors this season. A total of 38 of its outings have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just three have pushed. Los Angeles’ 21-17 SU as a road team this season.
Los Angeles has converted on 19.8 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked first overall and it’s successfully killed off 84.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Los Angeles’ skaters have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 6.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jonathan Quick (27.2 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Los Angeles. Quick owns a 29-28-2 record, and has registered a .921 save percentage and 2.43 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Kings, the offense will run through Anze Kopitar, who has 53 assists and 29 goals this season.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone under in three of Los Angeles’ last five outings.
Penalties and power plays may be even more critical than usual in the outcome of this game. The Kings are 15-11 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 27-18 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Avalanche are 17-12 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 25-22 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Los Angeles is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Colorado is 1-1 in shootouts.
Colorado skaters have averaged 5.8 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 6.5 takeaways per game (ranked 21st in the league).
Los Angeles is ranked 31st in the league this season with 4.8 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down lately, however, as the team has averaged 3.5 takeaways over its last 10 games and 2.8 takeaways over its last five.
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