Monday's best NHL bets
Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks (-135, 5.5)
We knew good things were in store for the Kings after their surprising playoff appearance a year ago, but did anyone think they’d be this good this fast? Los Angeles improved to 8-0 on home ice following Saturday’s win over the Islanders.
"I'm just proud of the way we're performing right now," Kings forward Anze Kopitar told the Los Angeles Daily News. "Yeah, we can talk about numbers, but it's the team that's making it happen pretty consistently on a nightly basis. That's the thing we were all looking forward to coming into this season this is just the start that we wanted."
The part we’re most impressed about the Kings is their defense. They’ve killed 22 straight penalties and they’ve allowed just four goals in their last five games.
That’s bad news for a San Jose side that’s really been struggling to score at even strength.
Pick: Under
Ottawa Senators at Philadelphia Flyers (-175, 5.5)
It didn’t take long for the Sens to rebound from that beatdown Vancouver handed them on Thursday. Ottawa bounced back with a shutout win at Boston, improving the club’s record to 7-2 over its last nine games.
Ottawa dedicated the win to assistant coach Luke Richardson, whose daughter committed suicide earlier in the week.
“I don’t think anyone can imagine what it feels like unless you’ve experienced it, but you can imagine and it’s probably even worse than what you can imagine,” Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson told the Ottawa Citizen.
Expect an emotional letdown in this spot for Ottawa. The Flyers are one of the hottest teams in the league and have won six straight at home.
Pick: Flyers
Rangers, Penguins open Monday hockey odds
By: Joe Freda
The Pittsburgh Penguins are 3-1 in their last four games, with the ‘over’ cashing at 2-0-2. Dan Bylsma’s club plays its third game in four nights as part of Monday’s league slate against the New York Rangers, who travel to CONSOL Energy Center for the second game of a back-to-back spot.
Pittsburgh came from behind in Saturday’s 4-2 win as a minus 103 road choice against the Atlanta Thrashers. The Penguins triumphed despite being outshot, 33-28, and outdrawn in faceoffs, 31-21.
Penguins center Evgeni Malkin notched his first hat trick of the season, finishing with three goals. The Russian launched a team-high seven shots on goal and took 2-of-5 faceoffs.
Pittsbugh’s Sidney Crosby logged his team’s sole other goal, following assists from Malkin and defenseman Deryk Engelland. Crosby’s tip-in extended the 23-year-old’s streak of games with at least one goal to five.
The battle’s combined six goals 'pushed' the NHL odds thanks to Malkin’s empty net strike with 1:02 remaining. Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury finished with a season-high 31 saves, improving to 3-6 in his nine outings with a 3.09 GAA.
Pittsburgh’s victory brought Crosby and Co. to 3-5 in its first eight home dates, with the ‘over’ collecting at 4-3-1.
New York picked up its second shutout win of the season with a 3-0 blitz as a 148 road 'dog against the New Jersey Devils in a Nov. 5 trip to Newark. The Rangers’ latest road game saw netminder Henrik Lundqvist log 33 saves, while his squad was outdrawn in faceoffs, 41-18.
New York’s Brandon Dubinsky notched two goals, including a shorthanded strike at 3:41 of the third period. The five-year center logged a season-high six shots on goal in 21 minutes of ice time.
Dubinsky’s mate Artem Anisimov finished with two assists in his third two-point game of the season.
The Rangers’ win improved John Tortorella’s club to 5-2 in their first seven road games, with its three goals also bringing the ‘under’ to 5-2.
Anisimov went on to have his first two-goal game of the year in Thursday’s 3-2 overtime win for New York as 148 home favorite. The 22-year-old poked the game-winner past Buffalo’s Jhonas Enroth at 1:32 of the extra stanza.
New York’s Martin Biron started in place of Lundqvist in goal, stopping 29-of-31 shots. Biron is 2-2 in his first four outings with a 2.26 GAA.
Lundqvist, who is 6-6 in his first 12 starts with a 2.68 GAA, could miss Monday’s matchup due to a flu illness. The 28-year-old was listed as “doubtful” by DonBest.com going into Sunday’s home game against the Edmonton Oilers.
New York is 3-0 in the second game of its three back-to-back spots, with the ‘under’ also collecting at 3-0. “The Broadway Blueshirts” have combined to outscore their foes, 8-1, in that span.
Pittsburgh is 8-1 in its last nine meetings against the Rangers, with the ‘over’ going 6-3.
The rivals ended their set of six matchups last season with two straight overtime affairs, splitting road wins and the total in each. Crosby notched two goals in a 3-2 defeat for Pittsburgh last February, while Lundqvist logged 50 saves in a 5-4 setback for the Rangers in March.
Monday’s puck is scheduled to drop at 4 p.m. (PT), with MSG Network and Fox Sports Pittsburgh providing television coverage.
Both squads will have one night off before resuming action on Wednesday’s league card. New York returns home to face the Boston Bruins, while Pittsburgh hosts the Vancouver Canucks.