Kings vs. Devils Pick
Are the Los Angeles Kings going to win as a small favorite tonight at the New Jersey Devils? The puck drops at 7PM ET.
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Kings are a -120 favorite on the moneyline. The Devils are a +100 underdog and the total is set at 5.5 goals.
Los Angeles enters with a 20-8-3-0 record after a 3-2 home overtime win against the Hurricanes on Saturday. New Jersey is 16-9-2-2 following a 5-2 loss at the Rangers on Saturday. The Kings won both meetings last season by scores of 4-2 in LA and 3-1 in New Jersey. The over-under went 1-1.
In the victory over Carolina, Tanner Pearson scored the game-winner with 20 seconds left in overtime off assists from defenseman Jake Muzzin and goaltender Jonathan Quick. Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist, while Tyler Toffoli also scored a goal. Pearson added an assist. Quick made 32 saves on 34 shots. Los Angeles scored twice in the second period before allowing two goals in the third.
Damon Severson and Miles Wood each scored a goal for the Devils in the loss at New York. Keith Kinkaid allowed five goals on 39 shots. New Jersey fell behind 2-0 in the second period and was unable to recover.
The road team is 6-2 in the last eight meetings. The under is 17-6-3 in the last 26 meetings.
The Kings are tops in the NHL in goals against, giving up 2.2 per game thanks in large part to the stellar play of Quick. Add in Kopitar playing out of his mind lately to lead the LA offense and you have the makings of a team that is difficult to beat in any game. While home ice should benefit the Devils, the road team has dominated recently in this series. Take the Kings in this spot.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES KINGS -120