Two clubs that have underwhelmed this year, the New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles Kings meet at the Staples Center. The match will get started at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 6, and you will be able to catch this East-West matchup live on Fox Sports West.
New Jersey Devils vs. Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles (-120) is currently favored over New Jersey (+100), and the Over/Under (O/U) is placed at 6 goals. If bettors want to put some action on the game’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -105 money on the over and -115 on the under.
Losing 10.8 units for moneyline gamblers, the Kings are 10-18 straight up (SU) overall this year. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 45-37 record that the team posted during the 2017-18 season campaign. 16 of its 28 matches have gone under the total, while 11 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team is 6-10 SU at home this season.
Los Angeles has converted on just 14.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s ranked 31st overall in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 28th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 73.8 percent of all penalties.
As a team, LA has been called for penalties just 3.4 times per game overall this season, 2.8 per game over its last five matchups total, and 3.4 per game over its last five at home. The team has had to stave off opposition power plays for just 6.4 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Averaging 25.0 saves per game with a .923 save percentage, Jack Campbell (5-8) has been the top option in goal for the Kings this season. If they, however, decide to rest him, the team may turn to Cal Petersen (4-5-5 record, .929 save percentage, 2.41 goals against average).
The Kings will continue to look for offensive production out of Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. Kopitar (18 points) is up to seven goals and 11 assists and has recorded multiple points in four different games this year. Brown has eight goals and seven assists to his credit and has notched a point in nine games.
In the other locker room, New Jersey is 9-17 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 26 regular season matches, 15 of its games have gone over the total, while nine have gone under the total and just two have pushed. New Jersey’s 2-11 SU as the away team this season.
New Jersey has converted on 18.6 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked ninth overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
New Jersey’s players have been called for penalties 4.1 times per game in total this season, and 3.4 per game over their past ten match ups. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Keith Kinkaid (2.94 goals against average and .906 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for New Jersey. Kinkaid is averaging 27.0 saves per game and owns a 9-13-5 record.
For the visiting Devils, the offense will run through Taylor Hall (eight goals, 19 assists) and Kyle Palmieri (12 goals, 10 assists).
New Jersey Devils at Los Angeles Kings Betting Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner \u2013 Devils, O/U \u2013 Under
Betting Trends
- The total has gone under in each of Los Angeles’ last five outings.
- This game features two of the tougher teams in the league. New Jersey skaters have accounted for the league’s 11th-most hits per game (22.2) and the Kings have registered the 10th-most (22.6).
