A couple of teams that split their head-to-head series (one win apiece) last year, the Los Angeles Kings and the Montreal Canadiens clash at Bell Centre. Fox Sports West will broadcast this East-West matchup, and the action gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 9.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
Montreal comes into the matchup as the heavy favorite with a -190 moneyline. The line for Los Angeles sits at +165, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over).
The Canadiens are 8-8 straight up (SU) and have earned 0.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. That early-season winning percentage is a slide from what the team managed during the 2018-19 season (44-38). Of its 16 games this season, nine have gone over the total, while six have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the team’s 4-3 SU at home.
Montreal has converted on 20.0 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 28th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 72.5 percent of all penalties.
Montreal, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties just 3.3 times per game overall this season, 3.2 per game over its last five matchups total, and 2.8 per game over its last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 7.3 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 28.7 saves per game with a .912 save percentage, Carey Price (7-6-2) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Canadiens this year. If they decide to rest him, however, Montreal may roll with Keith Kinkaid (1-2-2 record, .879 save percentage, 4.35 goals against average).
The Habs will continue to lean on the offensive production out of Jonathan Drouin and Tomas Tatar. Drouin (13 points) is up to seven goals and six assists and has recorded two or more points on two different occasions this year. Tatar has five goals and eight assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 10 games.
Los Angeles has lost 4.4 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 5-11 straight up (SU). Nine of its outings have gone over the total, while six have gone under the total and just one has pushed. Los Angeles’ 2-7 SU as a road team this season.
Los Angeles has converted on just 10.0 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places it in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully killed off 70.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Los Angeles’ players have been penalized 3.9 times per game in total this season, 3.4 per game over their past five match ups total, and 3.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jonathan Quick (26.4 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Los Angeles. Quick has two wins and seven losses to his credit, while registering a .859 save percentage and 4.40 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Kings, the offense will be heavily coordinated by Anze Kopitar, who has 11 assists and four goals on the year.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Montreal Canadiens Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in three of Montreal’s last five outings.
- Two teams that have clobbered opposing nets with shots, Los Angeles has attempted the league’s second-most shots on goal (35.8) and Montreal has attempted the eighth-most (33.4).
- The Canadiens are 2-3 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Kings are 2-3 SU in games where they serve more minutes than their opponent.
- Montreal skaters have forced 7.0 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 6.4 takeaways per game (ranked 24th in the league).
- Los Angeles is ranked 30th overall this season with 5.8 takeaways per game. That figure has trended upward lately, as the team has created 6.9 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.4 takeaways over its last five.
