The Staples Center will be the site for a divisional tilt as the Los Angeles Kings face off against the visiting Vancouver Canucks. It’s the fourth and last time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. Sportsnet Pacific will showcase the matchup, which gets underway at 10:30 p.m. ET on Monday, March 12.
Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles (-230) is currently favored over Vancouver (+190), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -130 for the under and +110 for the over.
The Kings are 37-31 straight up (SU) and have earned 2.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked second in the Pacific Division so far in the early season, is a welcome improvement compared to what the team managed during last year’s regular season (39-43). Of its 68 regular season matches, 34 have gone under the total, while 31 have gone over and just three have pushed. This year, the team is 17-16 SU at home.
Los Angeles has converted on 20.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked second overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.8 percent of all penalties.
Los Angeles, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over its past ten outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 6.6 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 27.3 saves per game with a .920 save percentage, Jonathan Quick (26-27-2) has been the primary option in goal for the Kings this year. If the Kings decide to rest him, however, head coach John Stevens could turn to Darcy Kuemper (10-9-9 record, .932 save percentage, 2.10 goals against average).
Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown will both spearhead the attack for the Kings. Kopitar (74 points) has tallied 27 goals and 47 assists and has recorded two or more points in 20 different games this year. Brown has 20 goals and 26 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 32 games.
Over on the other bench, Vancouver is 25-44 straight up (SU) and has lost 11.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 40 of its contests have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and none have pushed. Vancouver’s 13-21 SU as a road team this season.
Vancouver has converted on 21.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for ninth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 27th overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.0 percent of all penalties.
Vancouver’s players have been penalized 3.8 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over their past five match ups. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom (26.1 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom has 18 wins, 33 losses, and seven OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .910 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Canucks will be Brock Boeser (29 goals, 26 assists) and Daniel Sedin (21 goals, 26 assists).
Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Kings, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone over in three of Los Angeles’ last five outings.
Los Angeles has attempted 31.2 shots per game overall this season (ranked 21st in the NHL), and 32.4 over their last 10 outings.
The extra-man advantage may have a key role in tonight’s game. The Canucks are 9-12 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 15-32 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Kings are 13-9 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 24-15 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Los Angeles is 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vancouver is 0-3 in shootouts.
Los Angeles skaters have created 4.4 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 5.0 takeaways per game (ranked 32nd in the league).
Vancouver has scored 2.7 goals per game overall this season, but is averaging 1.0 goal per match up over its three-game losing skid.
Vancouver is ranked 25th in the league this season with 6.0 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower lately, however, as it has averaged 5.3 takeaways over its last 10 games and 4.4 takeaways over its last five.
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