The Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings meet Saturday in NHL action at the crypto.com Arena. Here’s a Kings vs Canadiens Prediction. This article will include a Kings vs Canadiens Pick.
Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview
The Montreal Canadiens lost to the Sharks and Ducks, and they play the Maple Leafs next. The Canadiens have lost 3 of their last 4 games.
The Montreal Canadiens are averaging 3.54 goals per game and are scoring on 24.7 percent of their power play opportunities. Cole Caufield leads Montreal with 37 goals, Lane Hutson has 52 assists and Nick Suzuki has 133 shots on goal. Defensively, the Montreal Canadiens are allowing 3.3 goals per game and are killing 76.3 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jakub Dobes has given up 85 goals on 766 shots faced, and Sam Montembeault has allowed 81 goals on 635 shots.
Los Angeles Kings Betting Preview
The Los Angeles Kings beat the Islanders, lost to the Avs, and they play the Blue Jackets next. The Kings have lost 7 of their last 10 games.
The Los Angeles Kings are averaging 2.56 goals per game and are scoring on 17 percent of their power-play opportunities. Adrian Kempe leads Los Angeles with 23 goals, Brandt Clarke has 24 assists, and Alex Laferriere has 148 shots on goal. Defensively, the Los Angeles Kings are allowing 2.89 goals per game and are killing 75.6 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Darcy Kuemper has given up 97 goals on 952 shots faced, while Anton Forsberg has allowed 66 goals on 691 shots.
Why the Los Angeles Kings will win
- The Kings have won each of their last nine games against the Canadiens.
- The Canadiens have lost 13 of their last 15 road games following a shootout win.
- The Kings have covered the puck line in nine of their last 10 games against the Canadiens.
- The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six day games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Kings have won the third period in each of their last six games against the Canadiens.
Why the Montreal Canadiens will win
- The Canadiens have won each of their last eight games as underdogs after coming off overtime.
- The Kings have lost each of their last five games as home favorites following a win.
- The Canadiens have covered the puck line in each of their last 18 games as underdogs.
- The Kings have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last nine games as favorites against opponents on a losing streak.
- The Kings have lost the second period in 10 of their last 11 games when leading after the first period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Kings’ last seven home games against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the Canadiens’ last six road games following a shootout win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Canadiens’ last 15 road games following a shootout loss.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Kings’ last 11 games following a home win.
Los Angeles Kings Player Prop Facts
- Artemi Panarin has scored a goal in four of his last five home appearances against the Canadiens.
- Artemi Panarin has recorded at least one assist in eight of his last nine appearances against the Canadiens.
- Adrian Kempe ranks T1st in the league for shootout goals (5) this season.
Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts
- Juraj Slafkovsky has scored at least one goal in four of the Canadiens’ last five games as road underdogs against Pacific Division opponents.
- Phillip Danault has recorded at least one assist in each of his last six appearances with his team as a road underdog against Pacific Division opponents.
- Cole Caufield ranks 2nd in the league for Goals (37) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Los Angeles Kings rank 30th in the league for goals per game this season (2.56).
- The Los Angeles Kings rank 28th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (75.65%).
- The Montreal Canadiens rank 2nd in the league for goals per game this season (3.54).
- The Montreal Canadiens rank 27th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (76.26%).
Kings vs Canadiens Prediction
The Kings are getting the benefit of the doubt because they’re at home and they’ve won 9 straight games against the Habs. The Canadiens haven’t beat the Kings since November 2019. Still, the Kings haven’t played well on their home ice. You can also make a strong argument that the Canadiens have been the better team this season. Getting plus money with the Habs has to be one of the stronger value plays on Saturday’s NHL card. Give me the Canadiens.