The Colorado Avalanche, led by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, are preparing to take the ice against Anze Kopitar, Alex Iafallo, and the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center in a Western Conference tilt. The action gets going at 10:30 p.m. ET on Monday, March 9, and it will be shown live on Altitude 2.
Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings Odds
Colorado is 41-27 straight up (SU) and has earned 2.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. 34 of its outings have gone under the total, while 31 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Avs are 24-12 SU as a road team in 2019-20.
Colorado has converted on 18.7 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it has successfully killed off 80.3 percent of all penalties..
Averaging 27.1 saves per game with a .916 save percentage, Philipp Grubauer (19-17-4) has been the best option in goal for Colorado this year. If it chooses to give him a rest, however, Colorado may roll with Pavel Francouz (21-11-4 record, .922 save percentage, 2.41 goals against average).
On the other bench, Los Angeles is 27-41 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 68 regular season matches, 37 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just five have pushed. It’s 17-15 SU at home this season.
The Kings have converted on just 17.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s ranked 25th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Jonathan Quick (26.5 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for the Kings. Quick has 15 wins, 26 losses, and four OT losses to his credit and has recorded a pedestrian 2.83 goals against average and a poor .903 save percentage this year.
Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
The Kings are 1-3 in games decided by shootout. The Avalanche are 1-1 in shootouts.
The under has hit in four of Los Angeles’ last five games.
This game features two clubs that have clobbered opposing goalies with shots. Colorado has taken the league’s 10th-most shots on goal (32.5) while Los Angeles’s attempted the fifth-most (33.1). The Avs have averaged 29.2 shot attempts over their last five road games while the Kings have taken 29.6 shots over their last five home outings.
Colorado skaters notched 21.9 hits per game last season, while the Kings forced 23.3 hits per matchup.