In a game featuring a couple of the league’s best penalty-kill units, the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers take the ice at Madison Square Garden for an East-West showdown. Sportsnet will broadcast the game, and the opening face-off is at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, December 15.
Los Angeles Kings at New York Rangers Odds
Los Angeles (-105) is currently the underdog to New York (-115) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Los Angeles is 20-12 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 5.8 units this season. 17 of its outings have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Kings team is 10-5 SU on the road.
Los Angeles has converted on just 16.2 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. Having said that, its penalty kill is ranked second overall, and it has successfully killed off a whopping 87.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Los Angeles has been whistled for penalties 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over its past five games. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.9 saves per game with a .926 save percentage, Jonathan Quick (15-10-1) has been the primary option in goal for Los Angeles this year. If Los Angeles chooses to rest him, however, head coach John Stevens may turn to Darcy Kuemper (5-4-2), who has a .941 save percentage and 1.88 goals against average this year.
Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Kings. Kopitar (38 points) has tallied 16 goals and 22 assists, and has recorded multiple points 11 times. Brown has 12 goals and 14 assists to his credit (and has registered a point in 17 games).
On the other side of the ice, New York is 16-15 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. 18 of its games have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 12-8 SU at home this year.
New York has converted on 20.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
New York players have been penalized only 3.6 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 6.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Henrik Lundqvist has denied 27.5 shots per game as the top option in goal for New York. Lundqvist has 14 wins, 12 losses, and two overtime losses and has registered a mediocre 2.70 goals against average and a .916 save percentage this year.
Mats Zuccarello (seven goals, 18 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Rangers.
Los Angeles Kings at New York Rangers Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone over in three of New York’s last five games.
Los Angeles has attempted 31.1 shots per game overall this season (ranked 19th in the NHL), and 26.4 in its last five road games.
Penalties and power plays may prove to be even more critical than usual tonight. The Kings are 6-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 14-6 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Rangers are 7-5 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 11-9 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
New York is 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Los Angeles is 2-0 in shootouts.
One of the top teams when it comes to disrupting opposing puckhandlers, New York is ranked 5th in the league with 9.9 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as the team has averaged 9.2 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.8 takeaways over its last five.
Los Angeles has created 6.2 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 5.1 takeaways per game (ranked 31st overall).
