Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks Odds: Stanley Cup Playoffs
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Mike Schultz
This series between two California rivals features two teams who were absent from the playoffs last year, the Kings noticeably so since they won the Stanley Cup in 2014. They had a far better showing this past year, marking 102 points in the regular season. The Kings have made it a tradition to beat the Sharks in the playoffs, so if the San Jose club wants to exorcise their Kings demons, they’ll have to find a way to shut down some of the most talented offensive players in the league. You can bet on the Kings vs. Sharks round one series right here.
Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1: Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks
Series Winner Odds:Kings -178, Sharks +126
Game Dates: 4/14 @ LAK, 4/16 @ LAK, 4/18 @ SJS, 4/20 @ SJS, *4/22 @ LAK, *4/24 @ SJS, *4/26 @ LAK
Home Team Advantage: Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings are the NHL’s most dominant possession team, and with Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter down the middle, they are an extremely difficult team to beat. Drew Doughty is having another unstoppable season, and is likely a Norris Trophy candidate with 51 points. This team has won ten of their past eleven playoff series, so they are bringing a tremendous amount of experience to the ice. Jonathan Quick hasn’t been slouching this year either, setting a franchise record with 40 wins. The Sharks will be hoping that the end-of-season slump that cost the Kings the Pacific Division title will continue into the first round of the playoffs and give them a much-needed advantage.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks are one of the league’s highest-scoring teams led by a skilled group of veteran forwards, including 36-year-old Joe Thornton and right wing Joe Pavelski, who notched more than 70 points for the third straight season. Brent Burns has had one of the best years of his career, setting single-season franchise records for goals and points by a defenseman. But whether this group can overcome their Kings curse, set even deeper in 2014 when they blew a 3-0 series to become the fourth team in NHL history to lose a series after winning the first three games, remains to be seen. A lot of this series could come down to goaltending, and in this particular matchup, the Kings have the advantage in net.
Prediction: Kings in 6