Montreal Canadiens vs. Los Angeles Kings Prediction, NHL Odds
Montreal is running into a red-hot Kings team that has won four straight games and boasts the fourth-best record in the NHL at 12-3-3.
Both squads are playing their second games in just less than 24 hours as puck drop from crypto.com Arena is set for 4:00 PM EST. Check out our NHL odds for Saturday afternoon’s Moneyline, Puckline and Over/Under.
Canadiens vs. Kings NHL Betting Odds
In the first of two meetings this season, the Canadiens will be looking for their first win over the Kings since November of 2019, a stretch of four straight games. Historically these teams play defensive hockey and matchups tend to be quite low-scoring, with nine of their last 12 games playing the UNDER. The Canadiens’ philosophy has changed this season though and they are not afraid to try and outgun their opponents.
Montreal hit the UNDER Friday afternoon for just the second time in their past six games, pushing their record on the Total 11-9 to the OVER. They have a matching 11-9 record against the spread as well, covering five of the last eight. They have only played on back-to-back days twice his season and are 0-2 in second halves.
After playing the OVER in six of their eight games in October, the Kings have locked things down defensively through November, holding opponents to just 1.8 goals per game. Only twice they have given up more than two goals, helping them play the UNDER in nine straight contests before yesterday’s 5-2 win over Anaheim. LA has covered the spread in each of the past three games improving them to 11-7 ATS.
Montreal Canadiens
Down 2-0 to the worst team in the NHL midway through the second period is not how the Canadiens saw this contest playing out. Luckily the Habs rallied after Johnathan Kovacevic (3) cut the lead in half with less than two minutes left in the second. Cole Caufield (6) then snapped a six-game goalless drought to tie the game early in the third. Montreal would lock down the defensive for the rest of the game and take the win on Jesse Ylonen’s goal in the sixth round of the shootout.
Defenceman Jayden Struble picked up the first point of his career with an assist in only his second game and goalie Cayden Primeau stopped 31 shots picking up his second win of the season.
Montreal is eyeing a season-high, three-game win streak after opening the road trip with back-to-back wins. They will play the Kings tonight, then travel to Columbus to wrap up the journey versus a struggling Blue Jackets team.
Los Angeles Kings
Through nine games this month the Kings have only lost once in regulation, putting them at an impressive 7-1-1 in November. Yesterday’s 5-2 win over the Ducks was the first time in four games that their opponent has scored more than a single goal.
Two quick powerplay goals mid-way through the first period put LA ahead 2-0. They went up 4-0 early in the second period before the Ducks even got their first. Each team would score in the third bringing the contest to its 5-2 final.
Kevin Fiala scored two goals in the game, and captain Anze Kopitar scored a goal and had an assist, while Drew Doughty, Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore all had a pair of assists.
The big dogs are performing as you would expect, but goaltender Cam Talbot has been the biggest surprise thus far. He has won each of his last three starts improving to 10-3-1 and leads all goalies with at least 14 games played in both major stats this season (2.02 GAA and .931 save %).
The Kings have been lights out on the road but are just 3-3-3 at home. They have a chance to get above .500 at home tonight for the first time all season.
MON
LA