A long seven-game road trip continues for the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night, as they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on TSN. The Kings are battling to stay in a playoff spot in the Western Conference, while the Penguins are gaining ground fast on the Washington Capitals for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Kings and Penguins met last month in Los Angeles and it was the Penguins winning by a score of 3-1.
This war on the ice will go down Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 7 p.m. ET at PPG Paints Arena. The game will be televised live on TSN.
We'll have NHL odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NHL Thursday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Kings have actually been a decent road team this season, as they were 16-13 in their first 29 road games, with 11 games going over the total, 16 going under, with two pushes. They are scoring 2.9 goals per game and giving up 2.4 per contest. Los Angeles tries to win with defense, as they are 2nd in the NHL in goals against. The Kings usually get solid goaltending from Jonathan Quick, but this season his backup, Darcy Kuemper has actually been better. Kuemper has a goals against average of less than two this season. The concern for the Kings is goal scoring, as they are just 18th in the NHL in goals per game. The big problem has been the team missing Jeff Carter who is not expected to return until later this month.
The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins have been looking more and more like a team that can win it all again this season. The Penguins have moved within four points of the Capitals for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. When the games start to matter, the Penguins are at their best. They are a combined 36-15-5 over the past two seasons from Feb. 14 through the end of the season. Whether or not they catch the Capitals for the top spot doesn’t really matter, as Pittsburgh has shown the ability to win at home and on the road in the playoffs.
The Penguins were 20-8 in their first 28 home games, with 16 going over, 11 going under the total, with one push. They are scoring 3.1 goals per game and giving up 3 goals per contest.
Special Teams
The Kings have a weak power play at just 19th in the league, but they are excellent in penalty killing at 2nd in the league. That penalty kill will get a huge test on Thursday, as the Penguins rank 1st in the NHL on the power play at 26.3%. The Penguins are also good on the penalty kill, as they rank 5th in the league.
Key Stat
The Penguins broke a four-game losing streak in this series with a 3-1 win in Los Angeles last month. The last three meetings in this series have gone under the total. The Kings have held their own in Pittsburgh through the years, as they have won six of the last ten in Pittsburgh, and the games have been low scoring. Five of the last eight have gone under, with three pushes.
Free NHL Picks
The Kings have been a decent road squad, but the Penguins have been really good at home. I am tempted to go with the Penguins but I would definitely want to make sure Murray was in goal before I lay a big price with Pittsburgh. I think the better option is the total. This series has big trends on the under and if the Kings are to have any chance to win this game they will have to limit Pittsburgh’s chances. I will go under the total in this contest on Thursday night.
NHL Odds: Penguins 3, Kings 1
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