Squaring off for the second and final time this season, the Los Angeles Kings and the Carolina Hurricanes collide at PNC Arena for a cross-country showdown. The opening face-off is at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 13, and you’ll be able to catch the game live on Fox Sports West.
Los Angeles Kings at Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Carolina (-125) is currently favored over Los Angeles (+105), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -130 for the under and +110 for the over.
Los Angeles is 30-25 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.1 units this year. 28 of its contests have gone under the total, while 24 have gone over and just three have pushed. The Kings are 16-13 SU as the away team in 2017-18.
Los Angeles has converted on 19.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. Additionally, it has the third-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 84.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Los Angeles has been sent to the penalty box 4.2 times per game during the 2017-18 season, 3.8 per game over its past five contests total, and 4.4 per game over its last five road outings. The teams had to kill penalties 12.2 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Averaging 27.4 saves per game with a .921 save percentage, Jonathan Quick (21-21-2) has been the primary option in goal for Los Angeles this season. If head coach John Stevens chooses to rest him, however, Los Angeles might turn to Darcy Kuemper (9-8-3 record, .937 save percentage, 1.93 goals against average).
The visiting Kings will be led by Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Kopitar has 59 points on 22 goals and 37 assists, and has recorded two or more points 16 times. Doughty has eight goals and 31 assists to his nameand has registered at least one point in 29 games.
Carolina is 26-30 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.8 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 56 regular season outings, 31 of its games have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just two have pushed. It’s 14-14 SU at home this season.
Carolina has converted on 18.6 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.1 percent of all penalties.
Carolina players have been penalized only 2.8 times per game in total this season, 3.4 per game over their last five outings total, and 3.4 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to defend opponent power plays just 7.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling has stopped 24.2 shots per game as the primary option in goal for Carolina. Darling has 10 wins, 21 losses, and six OT losses and has recorded a pedestrian 2.99 goals against average and a poor .894 save percentage this year.
Sebastian Aho (20 goals, 23 assists) will pace the attack for the Hurricanes.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Carolina Hurricanes Betting Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in each of Carolina’s last five outings.
- The Hurricanes have averaged the leagues fourth-most shots on goal (34.0) while the Kings have attempted the 22nd-most (only 34.0).
- Penalties and power plays may be even more critical than usual tonight. The Kings are 10-7 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 18-11 when they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Hurricanes are 15-17 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 20-24 when total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Carolina (3-3 in shootouts this season) has more experience in games decided by shootout. Los Angelesis undefeated in two shootouts this year.
- One of the best at creating pressure on opposing offenses, Carolina is ranked 1st overall with 11.1 takeaways per game. That figures trended higher, as the team has averaged 14.6 takeaways over its last 10 games and 17.8 takeaways over its last five.
- Los Angeles skaters have managed 5.4 takeaways per game over its last five road games, its season average of 4.8 takeaways per game (ranked 32nd in the NHL).
