LA Kings (19-9-5) vs. Washington Capitals (22-8-2)
December 22, 2024 5:00 pm EDT
The Line: Washington Capitals -111 / LA Kings -111; Over/Under: +6
(Get latest betting odds)
The Los Angeles Kings and the Washington Capitals meet Sunday in NHL action from the Capital One Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Washington Capitals vs LA Kings Prediction.
Los Angeles Kings Recap
The Los Angeles Kings come into this game looking to bounce back after a 3-2 OT loss to the Nashville Predators last time out. After this game, Los Angeles will head home to take on the Edmonton Oilers.
Kings Looking For Consistency
Anze Kopitar leads the Kings with 37 points including 10 goals and 27 assists while Alex Laferriere has 24 points with 12 goals. Adrian Kempe has 31 points with a team-high 16 goals and 15 assists while Brandt Clarke has 18 points with 15 assists. Kevin Fiala has 20 points with 12 goals and Trevor Moore has 18 points with 6 goals and 12 assists as well for the Kings this season. Darcy Kuemper has gone 8-2-5 so far this season with a 2.40 GAA and a .911 save percentage in goal for the Kings so far this season. David Rittich is 10-7 with a 2.49 GAA and a .890 save percentage while Erik Portillo has a 1.02 GAA and a .966 save percentage as well on the year.
Why the Los Angeles Kings will win
- The Kings have won each of their last six games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Capitals have lost three of their last five games as home favorites against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in eight of the Capitals’ last nine games at Capital One Arena.
- The Capitals have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six games as home favorites against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
Washington Capitals Recap
The Washington Capitals come into this game looking to build on their 3-1 win over Carolina last time out. After this game, Washington will head on the road to take on the Boston Bruins.
Capitals Looking To Build Steam
Dylan Strome leads the Capitals with 38 points including 11 goals and a team-high 27 assists while Alex Ovechkin has 25 points with 15 goals and 10 assists and Connor McMichael’s added 28 points with 16 goals and 12 assists. Aliaksei Protas has 27 points with 12 goals and 15 assists while Tom Wilson has 24 points and John Carlson has 23 points with Wilson logging 13 goals and 11 assists and Carlson adding 20 assists. Pierre-Luc Dubois also has 23 points with 18 assists of his own. In goal for Washington, Logan Thompson has gone 12-2-2 with a 2.48 GAA and a .911 save percentage while Charlie Lindgren is 10-6 with a 2.59 GAA and a .905 save percentage this season.
Why the Washington Capitals will win
- The home team has won each of the Capitals’ last four games.
- The Kings have lost four of their last five games at Capital One Arena.
- The home team has covered the puck line in each of the Capitals’ last five games.
- The Kings have failed to cover the puck line in three of their last four games as underdogs after coming off overtime.
Washington Capitals vs LA Kings Prediction
I’m on the Capitals here. The Caps are just the rested team in this matchup and while the Kings have been somewhat hot in recent weeks, the inconsistency in their game is starting to show up and it’s hard to trust what to see on a game-to-game basis. The Capitals are playing some solid hockey overall and I think that the Caps get the job done on home ice here. Give me Washington.
