Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings: NHL Odds, Prediction
Even though there’s about a month left in the regular season, this is the last time the Pacific Division rivals will square off in 2017-18.
Canucks vs Kings Betting Analysis
The Canucks still have two games left with the Anaheim Ducks, two with the Vegas Golden Knights, two with the Edmonton Oilers, one with the Arizona Coyotes and one with the San Jose Sharks. They are done with the Calgary Flames.
The Canucks haven’t had much to crow about this season, but they could at least win the season series with the Kings as they lead 2-1. If Los Angeles were to miss the playoffs by a point or two, losing this series would be especially painful. The one meeting between the teams in L.A. was back on Nov. 14 and the Canucks prevailed 3-2 despite trailing 2-0 after one. Sven Baertschi, now out for the season, scored the tiebreaking goal on a power play early in the third period.
Thomas Vanek (since traded) and Loui Eriksson (out for season) lead the Canucks with four points each vs. the Kings this season. Jacob Markstrom is 1-1-0 with 3.03 goals-against average and .912 save percentage. Anders Nilsson won his lone start, allowing two goals. For the Kings, Anze Kopitar (2G, 1A) and Tyler Toffoli (1G, 2A) lead with three points each vs. Vancouver. Jonathan Quick is 1-2-0 with a 4.62 GAA and .845 SV. Surprisingly bad numbers for one of the league’s better netminders.
The road team is 4-1 in the past five in the series.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks (25-35-9) have lost their past five in the second of a back-to-back and are just 1-5 in their past six Monday games. Vancouver was beaten in Arizona on Sunday, 1-0, as former King Darcy Kuemper pitched the shutout. It was his and the Coyotes’ second win over the Canucks in four days and Vancouver’s first game scoreless since Jan. 25. Markstrom was the tough-luck loser in stopping 23 shots. The team was again without defenceman Chris Tanev, and he already has been ruled out for Monday. It’s possible he returns from a leg injury Wednesday.
Los Angeles Kings
This is the end of a five-game homestand for the Kings (37-26-5) and they go to Arizona on Tuesday, so the situation in net is a bit murky here as most goaltenders won’t play both ends of a back-to-back – although it does happen. Quick’s new backup is inexperienced 26-year-old Jack Campbell after Kuemper was traded last month to Arizona. L.A. was handed its worst loss of the season at home by a sinking St. Louis team on Saturday, 7-2. Quick gave up four goals on 29 shots through two periods before being pulled. The Kings had not lost by more than four goals all season. One bright spot was Kopitar, who had two assists. He leads the team in points with 74 and could be the NHL Comeback Player of the year after he had 52 points last season.
