The Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche meet Sunday in NHL Game 1 at the Ball Arena. Here’s an Avalanche vs. Kings Prediction. This article will include an Avalanche vs. Kings Pick.
Los Angeles Kings Betting Preview
The Los Angeles Kings recently lost to the Canucks and Flames. The Kings have won 7 of their last 11 games.
The Los Angeles Kings are averaging 2.68 goals per game and are scoring on 17 percent of their power-play opportunities. Adrian Kempe leads Los Angeles with 36 goals, Brandt Clarke has 32 assists, and Alex Laferriere has 209 shots on goal. Defensively, the Los Angeles Kings are allowing 2.9 goals per game and are killing 74.6 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Darcy Kuemper has given up 134 goals on 1,234 shots faced, while Anton Forsberg has allowed 87 goals on 952 shots.
Colorado Avalanche Betting Preview
The Colorado Avalanche recently beat the Kraken and Flames. The Avalanche have won 11 of their last 15 games.
The Colorado Avalanche are averaging 3.63 goals per game and are scoring on 17.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado with 53 goals, Martin Necas has 62 assists, and Cale Makar has 199 shots on goal. Defensively, the Colorado Avalanche are allowing 2.4 goals per game and are killing 84.6 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Scott Wedgewood has given up 86 goals on 1,093 shots faced, and Mackenzie Blackwood has allowed 90 goals on 933 shots.
Why the Colorado Avalanche will win
- The Kings have lost each of their last eight games at Ball Arena against opponents on a winning streak.
- The Avalanche have won each of their last 11 Sunday day games at Ball Arena.
- The Kings have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last eight games at Ball Arena against opponents on a winning streak.
- The Avalanche have covered the puck line in each of their last seven games against the Kings.
- The Kings have lost the third period in each of their last seven games as road underdogs against Western Conference opponents when leading after the second period.
Why the Los Angeles Kings will win
- The Avalanche have lost each of their last five games as home favorites following a home win.
- The Kings have won each of their last four games as underdogs following a road loss.
- The Kings have covered the puck line in each of their last six games as road underdogs following a road loss.
- The Avalanche have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last five home games following a home win.
- The Avalanche have lost the second period in each of their last four games against Pacific Division opponents when trailing after the first period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Avalanche’s last nine day games following a win has gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the Kings’ last six road games following a road loss has gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 2.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Kings’ last four games as underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in each of the Avalanche’s last four games following a home win.
Colorado Avalanche Player Prop Facts
- Valeri Nichushkin has scored the last goal in each of the Avalanche’s last three-day playoff games.
- Nathan MacKinnon has scored a goal in each of the Avalanche’s last four playoff games.
- Nathan MacKinnon has recorded at least one assist in each of the Avalanche’s last 13 Game 1s of a playoff series.
- Nathan MacKinnon ranks 1st in the league for Goals (53) this season.
Los Angeles Kings Player Prop Facts
- Quinton Byfield has scored at least one goal in each of the Kings’ last six road games.
- Alex Laferriere has recorded an assist in each of the Kings’ last five road games.
- Joel Edmundson has recorded at least four shots in each of his last zero appearances—the [longest/equal-longest] active streak in the league.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Colorado Avalanche rank 1st in the league for goals per game this season (3.63).
- The Colorado Avalanche rank 1st in the league for goals against per game this season (2.40).
- The Los Angeles Kings rank 30th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (74.58%).
- The Los Angeles Kings rank 29th in the league for goals per game this season (2.68).
Avalanche vs Kings Prediction
The Kings played their best hockey on the road this season and they have a stingy defense that can slow things down and keep them hanging around. The problem is that it only lasts so long. The Avalanche has the edge in so many areas that eventually the dam will break loose.
The Avalanche have been the best team in the league up to this point and they’ve won 8 of the last 10 games against the Kings. The Avs have had a field day offensively in most of those games. In fact, the Avalanche have scored 4 or more goals in 9 of the last 10 games against the Kings. I understand two times your money in the NHL playoffs sounds enticing. Until it stops working, give me the Avs and the PL for max betting value.