NHL: In The Crease - Week 14

In the Crease - Week 14
January 3, 2018
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com

Working Overtime
The Los Angeles Kings have posted a 12-3-3 record over the past 18 outings, going to overtime in six of those outings with one game decided in a shootout. Their record is 3-3 in overtime, with a 1-0 mark in the shootout during the span. Overall they're 5-5 in 10 games in overtime, while going 2-0 in the shootout this season. Six of their past 11 games have been decided by one goal, too.

Golden Goose
The Vegas Golden Knights certainly do not walk, talk or act like an expansion team. In fact, they have ascended the odds sheet to be among the favorite to win the Stanley Cup. That's pretty amazing, but they've won eight in a row after their 3-0 shutout against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, and they're a ridiculous 12-1 over their past 13 games overall. They have 56 points to lead the Pacific Division by three points, and they're second in the NHL in point behind only the Tampa Bay Lightning (60 points). Could we be seeing a Stanley Cup Finals preview on Jan. 18 when the Lightning and Golden Knights meet in Tampa? I know, it felt ridiculous typing it, too, but it's certainly possible.

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, January 3
The Blackhawks and Rangers battle in an Original Six battle on Wednesday, a 'night you love to hate'. Chicago rolls into the game with just one win over their past five games, while going 3-9 across the past 12 against teams with a winning record. They're also 2-10 in their past 12 road games against a team with a home winning percentage over .600. For the Rangers, they have won 13 of their past 16 games at Madison Square Garden while going 35-17 in their past 52 against Western Conference clubs. They're also 11-5 in the past 16 games against teams with a winning overall record. Chicago might be skidding, but they're 4-1 in their past five at MSG, while the road team is 6-1 in the past seven meetings. The 'under' is 6-2-1 in the past nine meetings, too.

Thursday, January 4
The Hurricanes and Penguins do battle in the Steel City, and Pittsburgh will be looking for revenge after losing 2-1 on Dec. 29 in Raleigh. The Hurricanes slipped up Tuesday night against the Capitals in a 5-4 overtime loss, but they have earned points in eight of their past 10 outings. The Penguins slapped the brakes on a two-game road slide with a win at Philadelphia, 5-1. The offense finally broke out of its slump with the five goals after averaging 2.0 goals per game over their past nine outings. Despite their win on Friday, Carolina is still just 1-7 over the past eight tries against Pittsburgh. They're 0-4 in their past four trips to Western Pennsylvania.

The Kings roll into Calgary trying to extinguish the Flames. Los Angeles is 7-1 in their past eight games on one day of rest, and they're 11-2 in their past 13 road games against a team with a losing home record. They're also 20-8 in their past 28 games against teams with a losing overall record. On the flip side, the Flames are 2-6 in their past eight against teams with a winning overall mark. The good news for Calgary is that they're 4-1 in the past five meetings with L.A. The 'under' is an impressive 11-4-3 in the past 18 meetings between these two in Calgary, while going 22-8-4 in the past 34 meetings overall.

Friday, January 5
The Red Wings host the Panthers at Little Caesars Arena in the third meeting between these two sides. If the first two battles are any indication, this will go down to the wire. Detroit won 3-2 in a shootout in Sunrise in the first meeting on Oct. 28, and the Panthers returned the favor with a 2-1 win in overtime in Motown on Dec.11. In fact, each of the past four meetings in this series have been decided by one goal, with the road team going a perfect 4-0 during the stretch. Three of the meetings have been decided in overtime or a shootout, too.

Saturday, January 6
The Stars host the Oilers in the Metroplex in matinee action on Saturday afternoon. This will be the third meeting of the season, with Dallas winning 6-3 at home on Nov. 18, and Edmonton will at home by a 5-4 count on Oct. 26. The common denominator is that the 'over' hit in each matchup. The over is 7-3 in the past 10 games for Dallas. The Oilers, meanwhile, have been blanked 5-0 in back-to-back games entering the week, so perhaps an offensive explosion is coming since they're due. They're averaging just 1.0 goals per game on the current homestand, but they averaged 5.0 goals per game in the previous homestand on Dec. 18-23.
The Kings host the Predators at Staples Center in late-night action on Saturday. The Predators won 4-3 in overtime in the first meeting in L.A. back on Nov. 4, as Juuse Saros outlasted Darcy Kuemper. Look for Jonathan Quick to face the Preds this time around, however. He has been red hot lately, blanking the Oilers on Tuesday. Last season the Kings swept the three regular-season meetings against the Predators, with the 'under' going 2-0-1. The 'under' is 5-1 over the past six games for Los Angeles entering play on Wednesday, while the 'under' is 6-3 in the past nine for the Predators after their 3-0 loss Tuesday in Vegas.