The Los Angeles Kings and the Pittsburgh Penguins meet Sunday in NHL action from PPG Paints Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Penguins vs Kings Prediction.
Los Angeles Kings Recap
The Los Angeles Kings come into this game looking to bounce back from their 5-2 loss at the hands of the Florida Panthers last time out to sit at 6-5-4 on the year. After this game, the Kings will head on the road again for a game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Kings Drop 3 Of Their Last 4
Adrian Kempe leads the Kings with 16 points including 6 goals and 10 assists while Quinton Byfield has 11 points with 2 goals and 9 assists this season. Kevin Fiala’s added 10 points with 6 goals and 4 assists while Corey Perry has 8 points with 5 goals and 3 assists and Brandt Clarke’s added 7 points with 2 goals and 5 assists this season. Andrei Kuzmenko and Joel Armia each have 7 points with Kuzmenko logging 3 goals and 4 assists while Armia has 2 goals and 5 assists while Anze Kopitar has 6 assists and Joel Edmundsson has 5 assists. Alex Laferriere also has 5 points with 3 goals and 2 assists this season. Darcy Kuemper’s gone 4-3-3 with a 2.57 GAA and a .900 save percentage while Anton Forsberg’s 2-2-1 with a 3.54 GAA and an .878 save percentage in goal for the Kings this season.
Why the Los Angeles Kings will win
- The Penguins have lost each of their last seven games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Kings have won each of their last five day games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Penguins have failed to cover the puck line in 16 of their last 18 day games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Kings have covered the puck line in each of their last five day games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
Los Angeles Kings Player Prop Facts
- Adrian Kempe has scored at least one goal in five of the Kings’ last six games against the Penguins.
- Anze Kopitar has recorded at least one assist in each of his last seven appearances with the Kings as favorites against the Penguins.
- Adrian Kempe has recorded at least one point in each of the Kings’ last seven road games.
- Adrian Kempe ranks T1st in the league for shootout goals (2) this season.
Pittsburgh Penguins Recap
The Pittsburgh Penguins come into this game looking to bounce back from a 2-1 shootout loss at the hands of the New Jersey Devils to sit at 9-4-3 this season. After this game, Pittsburgh will head on the road for a game aganst the Nashville Predators.
Penguins Drop 3 Of Last 4 & 5 Of Last 8
Evgeni Malkin leads the Penguins with 20 points coming on 3 goals and a team-high 17 assists while Sidney Crosby has 20 points with a team-high 11 goals and 9 assists. Justin Brazeau has 12 points with 6 goals and 6 assists and Anthony Mantha has 12 points with 7 goals and 5 assists. Erik Karlsson has 11 assists while Bryan Rust has 15 points with 5 goals and 10 assists and Rickard Rakell has 8 points with 3 goals and 5 assists. Ryan Shea has 8 points with 2 goals and 6 assists and Kris Letang has 7 points with 6 assists. Arturs Silovs has gone 4-2-3 with a 2.49 GAA and a .916 save percentage in goal for the Penguins so far this season while Tristan Jarry is 5-2 with a 2.60 GAA and a .911 save percentage this year.
Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win
- The Penguins have won each of their last six games as home underdogs against Pacific Division opponents.
- The Kings have lost three of their last four games as favorites.
- The Penguins have covered the puck line in each of their last six games as home underdogs against Pacific Division opponents.
- The Kings have failed to cover the puck line in 11 of their last 12 games as road favorites following a home loss.
Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts
- Anthony Mantha has scored a goal in each of the Penguins’ last four home games.
- Bryan Rust has recorded at least one assist in seven of the Penguins’ last eight games as underdogs.
- Sidney Crosby has recorded at least one point in 15 of the Penguins’ last 16 games as home underdogs.
- Evgeni Malkin ranks T1st in the league for Assists (17) this season.
Total Goals Facts
- Eight of the Penguins’ last nine home games on the second leg of a back-to-back have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the Kings’ last four games following a loss have gone UNDER the total goals line.
Penguins vs Kings Prediction
I’m backing the Penguins here. I just continue to think that the Kings are still a team that’s headed for major regression this season, and are primed for letdowns more often than not this season. The Penguins continue to defy the odds with wins left and right, and they’ve been really solid at home so far this season. Give me Pittsburgh here.