The Staples Center will be hosting a Western Conference showdown as the Winnipeg Jets travel to the City of Angels to take on the Los Angeles Kings. Fox Sports West will broadcast the matchup, which gets going at 10:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 22.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles enters the matchup as the favorite with a -135 moneyline. The line for Winnipeg sits at +115, 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.
Netting moneyline bettors 0.6 units, Los Angeles is 12-9 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That winning percentage, the third-best in the Pacific Division so far this season, is a welcome improvement compared to what the team managed during last years regular season (39-43). Of the teams 21 games this season, nine have gone under the total, while nine have gone over and just two have pushed. Thus far, the team is 6-6 SU at home.
The Kings have converted on 18.6 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked first overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 90.1 percent of all penalties.
The Kings, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over their past five contests. The teams had to kill penalties for just 7.0 minutes per game over their last five outings, overall.
Averaging 29.5 saves per game with a .926 save percentage, Jonathan Quick (9-8-1) has been the best goalkeeper for Los Angeles this year. If the Kings, however, decide to give him the night off, head coach John Stevens could roll with Darcy Kuemper (3-3-3 record, .943 save percentage, 1.62 goals against average).
The Kings will continue to lean on the offensive production from Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. Kopitar (23 points) has tallied nine goals and 14 assists and has recorded two or more points in six different games this year. Brown has eight goals and 11 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 12 contests.
On the other side of the rink, Winnipeg is 12-8 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 4.0 units this season. A total of 12 of its outings have gone over the total, while eight have gone under and none have pushed. The Jets are 5-5 SU as the road team this season.
The Jets have scored on 22.7 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places it in the top-five among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 22nd overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.4 percent of all penalties.
Winnipeg’s players have been penalized 4.3 times per game in total this season, 4.4 per game over their past five match ups total, and 4.4 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The teams been forced to kill penalties 9.4 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Connor Hellebuyck (2.45 goals against average and .925 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Winnipeg. Hellebuyck is averaging 28.6 saves per game and owns an 11-5-2 record.
For the visiting Jets, the offense will run through Blake Wheeler (five goals, 20 assists) and Mark Scheifele (11 goals, 14 assists).
Winnipeg Jets at Los Angeles Kings Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Kings, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The under has hit in four of Los Angeles last five outings.
- Over Winnipeg’s last ten games, seven of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-2 in those games).
- The Kings this season have recorded the fourth-most hits per game (24.9).