Los Angeles Kings vs. Winnipeg Jets Prediction, NHL Odds
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Nik Kowalski
It’s the return of Kings centre Pierre-Luc Dubois to Winnipeg, after L.A. gave up forwards Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, and Rasmus Kupari in return.
Both clubs have started off their seasons with some high-scoring tilts; each team has played two games so far and both have seen a combined 18 goals in their two contests. The Jets are coming off a 6-4 victory in their home opener Saturday, while L.A. is still seeking their first dub after falling 6-5 in a shootout Saturday night.
Puck drop at Canada Life Centre gets going at 8 p.m. EDT with the Jets a slight favourite at -130 on the moneyline and the over-under set at 6.5 on the NHL odds.
Kings vs. Jets NHL Betting Odds
With their hot starts both scoring and allowing goals, most recent Kings and Jets trends point toward the over. The exception is when these teams meet one another, as 10 of the last 13 Kings–Jets contests have finished under the total.
With a win in their home opener, Winnipeg picked up where they left off after going 26-13-2 at home a season ago. Los Angeles was a strong a road club last season though, finishing 21-14-6 away from home. The Kings have yet be a favourite this season despite being viewed by many as a Stanley Cup contender. L.A. currently has the ninth best odds to win the Cup at +1800.
Los Angeles Kings
A second half surge on Saturday night earned L.A. their first point of the season, but missed opportunities in a nine-round shootout still led to a defeat. Newly acquired Pierre-Luc Dubois and Trevor Moore were the only two Kings to light the lamp in the breakaway challenge.
The biggest question mark heading into this season is easily L.A.’s goalie tandem of Cam Talbot and Pheonix Copley and the duo’s off to a shaky start. Copley stopped 14 of 19 shots faced Saturday, and Talbot led in four goals in L.A.’s season-opening 5-2 loss.
On the bright side, 36-year-old captain Anze Kopitar has had a nice start to his year with a pair of goals in Saturday’s loss. Kevin Fiala — the only other Kings skater besides Kopitar to eclipse 70 point last season — registered a trio of assists in the loss.
Winnipeg Jets
Although debatable whether it’s sustainable, Winnipeg again played to a back-and-forth affair in their home opener versus Florida and came out on top 6-4. Star forward Kyle Connor was exactly that in the win, scoring twice and adding an assist. Connor’s skating on Winnipeg’s top line with Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi, the latter the only of the trio without multiple goals this season.
Connor Hellebuyck’s allowed four goals in both his starts this season and should get another solid test with L.A.’s offence rolling in. Hellebuyck was one of two goalies to face over 1,800 shots last season and with his fresh seven-year extension, turns out being the workhorse in net is something Hellebuyck is okay doing.
LA
WIN