Kings vs. Capitals Pick
Will the Washington Capitals protect their home ice tonight at 7PM ET when they play the Los Angeles Kings?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Capitals are listed as a -140 favorite on the moneyline. The Kings are a +110 underdog, while the over-under is set at 5.5 goals.
Los Angeles comes in with a 14-8-3 record after a 4-1 victory at the Red Wings on Tuesday. Washington is 14-10-1 following a 4-2 triumph at Toronto on Saturday. The two meetings were split 1-1 last season, with the Capitals winning 5-0 on their home ice and the Kings prevailing 4-2 at home. The over-under went 1-0-1.
In the win at Detroit, Anze Kopitar led the way with two goals and an assist. Dustin Brown and Adrian Kempe each had one goal apeice. Drew Doughty dished out two assists. Jonathan Quick made 23 saves on 24 shots. The Kings led 2-1 through two periods and added two insurance goals in the third period.
Alexander Ovechkin tallied a hat trick in the Capitals’ win at the Maple Leafs. Jakub Vrana also scored a goal. TJ Oshie dished out three assists, while Nicklas Backstrom added two assists. Braden Holtby saved 27 of 29 shots. Washington led 3-0 through two periods and held on after Toronto cut it to 3-2 six-plus minutes into the third period. Ovechkin secured his third goal with nine seconds left to seal it.
Los Angeles is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings. The home team is 6-0 in the last six meetings.
The Capitals are getting great production from Ovechkin and others, but the Kings have the tyoe of defensive philosophy and solid goaltending that can frustrate even an elite offensive talent. Look for LA to waltz into Washington and pull off the road victory behind a superb effort from Quick along with some timely scoring from its variety of playmakers.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES KINGS +110