Nashville Predators at Los Angeles Kings Betting Preview

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A couple of teams that are firmly in the playoff hunt, the Nashville Predators and the Los Angeles Kings meet at the Staples Center in a Western Conference showdown. Fox Sports West will broadcast the game, which gets going at 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 6.

Nashville Predators at Los Angeles Kings Odds

With a moneyline of -120, Los Angeles comes into the contest as the favorite. The line for Nashville sits at +100, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -135 for the under and +115 for the over.

The Kings are 24-17 straight up (SU) and have netted 4.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. That win percentage, ranked fifth in the NHL so far this season, is a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2016-17 season (39-43). Through 41 regular season matches, 21 of its games have gone under the total, while 17 have gone over and just three have pushed. The teams 11-8 SU at home this year.

Los Angeles has converted on 17.4 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 first overall, and it’s successfully killed off 87.8 percent of all penalties.

Los Angeles, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 4.8 per game over its past five games. The team has been forced to stave off opposition power plays for just 7.8 minutes per contest over its last five home games.

Averaging 28.6 saves per game with a .928 save percentage, Jonathan Quick (19-14-2) has been the best goalkeeper for the Kings this year. If they, however, choose to rest him, the team may go with Darcy Kuemper (5-5-5 record, .934 save percentage, 2.11 goals against average).

The Kings will continue relying on offensive production from Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. Kopitar (43 points) has tallied 17 goals and 26 assists and has recorded two or more points 12 times this year. Brown has 15 goals and 17 assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 21 contests.

Nashville is 23-17 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 3.0 units this season. A total of 20 of its contests have gone over the total, while another 20 have gone under and none have pushed. As a road team so far, Nashville is 11-11 SU.

Nashville has scored on 24.2 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for fifth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 12th overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.2 percent of all opponent power plays.

Nashville’s skaters have been penalized 5.2 times per game this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five on the road. The teams had to kill penalties just 7.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.

Pekka Rinne (29.3 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Nashville. Rinne owns a 19-11-3 record, while registering a .924 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average this year.

Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Predators will be Filip Forsberg (15 goals, 19 assists) and P.K. Subban (nine goals, 20 assists).

Nashville Predators vs. Los Angeles Kings Betting Picks

Predictions: SU Winner – Predators, O/U – Over

Betting Trends

  • Nashville (3-4 in shootouts) has more experience this season in games decided by shootout. Los Angeles, however, has yet to lose a shootout this year (2-0).
  • The total has gone under in three of Los Angeles last five games.
  • The Kings this season have registered the third-most hits per game (24.7).