In their last head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Detroit Red Wings and the Los Angeles Kings face off at the Staples Center in an East-West showdown. NBC Sports Network will showcase the game, which gets going at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 15.
Detroit Red Wings at Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles (-240) is currently favored over Detroit (+200), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-120 for the under, +100 for the over).
The Kings are 38-32 straight up (SU) and have netted moneyline bettors 1.8 units this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Pacific Division in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 39-43 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Among its 70 games this season, 32 have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just three have pushed. The team’s 18-16 SU at home this year.
Los Angeles has converted on 20.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked second overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.1 percent of all penalties.
Los Angeles, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 3.1 per game over its past ten matchups. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for just 6.4 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, in total.
With a .922 save percentage and 27.4 saves per game, Jonathan Quick (27-27-2) has been the primary option in goal for the Kings this season. If head coach John Stevens chooses to rest him, however, the Kings may turn to Darcy Kuemper (10-9-9 record, .932 save percentage, 2.10 goals against average).
The Kings will continue seeking leadership out of Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Kopitar (76 points) has tallied 28 goals and 48 assists and has recorded two or more points in 21 different games this year. Doughty has nine goals and 39 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 36 contests.
Detroit is 26-43 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. A total of 41 of its contests have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just one has pushed. Detroit’s 13-21 SU as the visiting team this season.
Detroit has converted on just 18.1 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s ranked 23rd in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 23rd overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.2 percent of all penalties.
Detroit’s skaters have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, 4.0 per game over their last five contests total, and 3.8 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jimmy Howard (26.6 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Detroit. Howard has 18 wins, 34 losses, and eight overtime losses to his credit, and has registered a .910 save percentage and 2.85 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Red Wings, the offense will be coordinated by Dylan Larkin (nine goals, 40 assists) and Henrik Zetterberg (10 goals, 36 assists).
Detroit Red Wings at Los Angeles Kings Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Kings, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Detroit is 4-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Los Angeles is 2-1 in shootouts.
- The over has hit in three of Los Angeles’ last five outings.
- Detroit has managed 29.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Los Angeles has been attempting 33.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Over Detroit’s last ten games, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-3 in those games).
- The Kings this season have recorded the second-most hits per game (25.6).
