In a game featuring a couple of the leagues top penalty-kill units, the Los Angeles Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks take the ice at the United Center in a Western Conference showdown. The action will get going at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday, February 19 and it’ll air live on WGN Channel 9.
Los Angeles Kings at Chicago Blackhawks Odds
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Los Angeles is 31-27 straight up (SU) and has earned 1.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 58 regular season contests, 29 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just three have pushed. As the away team in 2017-18, the Kings are 17-15 SU.
Los Angeles has converted on 19.4 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 third overall, and the teams successfully killed off 83.4 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Kings have been sent to the penalty box 4.2 times per game this season, 4.2 per game over its past five games total, and 4.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to kill penalties 11.8 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Sporting a .920 save percentage and 27.4 saves per game, Jonathan Quick (22-23-2) has been the top option in goal for Los Angeles this season. If it decides to give him a rest, however, Los Angeles might turn to Darcy Kuemper (9-9-3 record, .934 save percentage, 2.04 goals against average).
The visiting Kings will be led by Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Kopitar has 63 points on 25 goals and 38 assists, and has recorded two or more points 17 times. Doughty has eight goals and 33 assists to his credit (and has notched a point in 30 games).
Over on the other bench, Chicago is 25-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. 30 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just three have pushed. It’s 13-16 SU at home this season.
The Blackhawks have converted on just 16.1 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s ranked 28th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of all penalties.
Blackhawks players have been penalized 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 5.0 per game over their last five match ups. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 8.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Corey Crawford has stopped 27.9 shots per game as the primary option in goal for the Blackhawks. Crawford has 16 wins, 12 losses, and two overtime losses to his name and has registered a .929 save percentage and 2.27 goals against average this season.
Patrick Kane (22 goals, 33 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the Hawks.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks Betting Predictions
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Free Pick: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The total has gone over in three of Chicago’s last five outings.
- Los Angeles has managed 34.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Chicago is averaging 39.8 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Over Los Angeles last ten games, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-3 in those games).
- Los Angeles skaters have accounted for the fourth-most hits in the league (25.3 per game).
