The Los Angeles Kings, led by Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, are set to take the ice against Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, and the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center in a cross-country showdown. This one gets started at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 23 and it can be caught live on Fox Sports West.
Los Angeles Kings at Florida Panthers Odds
The Panthers (-175) are the favorite over the Kings (+155), and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-105 over, -115 under).
Florida is 26-33 straight-up (SU) and has lost 12.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 44-38 record that the team managed during last year’s regular season campaign. Among its 59 games this season, 30 have gone over the total, while 22 have gone under and just seven have pushed. Thus far, the team’s 15-16 SU at home.
The Panthers come into the matchup with the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has found the net on 25.7 percent of their extra-man advantages this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.4 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 24.1 saves per game with a .901 save percentage, James Reimer (14-20-5) has been the top goalkeeper for the Panthers this year. If the Panthers choose to give him a rest, however, head coach Bob Boughner may turn to Roberto Luongo (13-17-17 record, .895 save percentage, 3.14 goals against average).
In the other locker room, Los Angeles is 23-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 13.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 60 regular season matches, 32 of its games have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Kings are 11-20 SU as the road team this season.
The Kings have converted on just 15.0 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 31st overall and it’s successfully killed off 74.4 percent of all penalties.
Jonathan Quick (26.9 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Los Angeles. Quick has 11 wins, 20 losses, and five overtime losses to his credit, and has registered a .900 save percentage and 3.06 goals against average this year.
Los Angeles Kings at Florida Panthers Betting Predictions
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Four of Los Angeles’ last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-3 in those games.
- Penalties and power plays may be extremely important in tonight’s matchup. The Kings are 8-15 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 17-28 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Panthers are 13-17 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 16-23 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Two of Los Angeles’ last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- The total has gone over in three of Los Angeles’ last five outings.
- Los Angeles skaters have averaged 9.6 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 10.6 giveaways per game (ranked 20th in the league).
- Florida is ranked 31st this season with 15.0 giveaways per game. That figure has trended higher recently, as the team’s averaged 17.7 giveaways over its last 10 games and 17.2 giveaways over its last five.
