Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and the Washington Capitals are set to do battle against Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center in an East-West showdown. NBC Sports Washington will air the action, which gets going at 10:30 p.m. ET on Monday, February 18.
Washington Capitals at Los Angeles Kings Odds
Moneyline odds have not yet been posted for this matchup.
Washington is 32-26 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 58 regular season outings, 30 of its games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and just three have pushed. The Caps are 15-12 SU on the road in 2018-19.
Washington has converted on 21.1 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 22nd out of 31 teams, and it’s successfully killed off 78.7 percent of all penalties..
Averaging 27.9 saves per game with a .908 save percentage, Braden Holtby (20-21-6) has been the primary option in goal for Washington this year. If it chooses to give him a rest, however, the team might turn to Pheonix Copley (13-8-3 record, .903 save percentage, 3.02 goals against average).
On the other side of the rink, Los Angeles is 23-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 11.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 30 of its games have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just one has pushed. This year, the team is 12-16 SU at home.
The Kings have converted on just 15.5 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the bottom 5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 30th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.4 percent of all penalties.
Jonathan Quick (26.9 saves per game) has been the top option in the crease for the Kings. Quick has 11 wins, 19 losses, and five OT losses and has registered a mediocre 3.09 goals against average and a poor .899 save percentage this year.
Washington Capitals vs. Los Angeles Kings Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Kings, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Five of Los Angeles’ last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 1-4 overall in those games.
- Penalties and power plays may be critical in this game. The Capitals are 14-6 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 20-15 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Kings are 8-14 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 17-27 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Two of Los Angeles’ last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in four of their past five outings.
- Washington is ranked 25th this season with 12.0 giveaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as it’s averaged 14.1 giveaways over its last 10 games and 13.2 giveaways over its last five.
- Los Angeles skaters have averaged 10.6 giveaways per game (ranked 19th in the league).
- Washington skaters have dished out the league’s 11th-most hits per game (23.0).
