Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, and the Winnipeg Jets are set to do battle against Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center in a Western Conference showdown. The opening face-off takes place at 10:30 p.m. ET on Monday, March 18, and fans at home are able to see it live on The Sports Network.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Los Angeles Kings Odds
Los Angeles (+150) is entering this one as the underdog to Winnipeg (-170), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-120 under, +100 over).
Winnipeg is 42-29 straight up (SU) and has netted 3.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 71 regular season matches, 36 of its games have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and just seven have pushed. This 2018-19 Jets team is 18-16 SU on the road.
Winnipeg has converted on 25.6 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 23rd overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 79.4 percent of its penalties..
Averaging 29.6 saves per game with a .910 save percentage, Connor Hellebuyck (30-24-2) has been the primary option in goal for Winnipeg this year. If Winnipeg decides to rest him, however, head coach Paul Maurice might roll with Laurent Brossoit (12-7-2), who has a .929 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average this year.
Over on the other bench, Los Angeles is 25-46 straight up (SU) and has lost 19.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. 35 of its outings have gone under the total, while 34 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team’s 13-22 SU at home this season.
The Kings have converted on just 15.3 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 30th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Jonathan Quick has stopped 26.3 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for the Kings. Quick has 13 wins, 27 losses, and six OT losses to his credit and has registered a fairly-weak .891 save percentage and 3.30 goals against average this year.
Winnipeg Jets at Los Angeles Kings Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Kings, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Six of Los Angeles’ last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the team is 1-5 overall in those games.
- Power plays and penalty kills may play a critical role in this game. The Jets are 20-14 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 27-19 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Kings are 9-17 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 19-33 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Winnipeg is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Los Angeles is 2-3 in shootouts.
- Winnipeg could hold the upper hand if it’s a tight one late. The team’s an impressive 17-10 in one-goal games, while Los Angeles is 12-15 in such games.
- The total has gone over in three of Winnipeg’s last five games.
- Winnipeg skaters have averaged 7.8 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.5 giveaways per game (the 11th-fewest in the NHL).
- Los Angeles skaters have averaged 9.0 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 10.4 giveaways per game (ranked 18th).
- The Kings this season have tallied the 12th-most hits in the league (23.1 per game).
