Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Los Angeles Kings Prediction, NHL Odds
If Toronto fails to clinch the Atlantic Division this year they can point to nights like Thursday as the reason, with the Leafs losing 6-5 in a shootout to the league-worst Sharks. The Kings are coming off a 4-0 loss in Colorado on Thursday, but they’re still in a good position to hold home ice in what looks like a fourth straight first round playoff matchup against the Oilers.
L.A. opened as a -140 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 5.5.
Maple Leafs vs. Kings NHL Betting Odds
This ends the season series after Toronto won 6-2 at home on Oct. 16. It’s worth noting that head-to-head action has generally been close, with the teams splitting the last four years worth of season series’.
The Leafs’ stumble against San Jose has cost them top spot in the Atlantic Division and they enter Saturday’s tilt with losses in four of their last five games against Pacific Division opponents. That doesn’t bode well against a Kings squad with only three regulation home losses all season.
Neither team has been great against the spread. Toronto is 36-36 ATS, while L.A. is 34-37 ATS. The Kings hold a slight edge in this game as they are 17-16 ATS at home and the Maple Leafs are 16-19 ATS on the road.
Goals have been plentiful for Toronto in recent games, with the Over hitting in five of their last six contests overall as well as seven straight on the road. That stretch might come to an end on Saturday as the total has gone Under in four of the last five head-to-heads between these teams.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs would have liked a better result heading into San Jose, but they’re probably happy to salvage a point after trailing by two goals heading into the final minute of regulation. John Tavares and William Nylander scored late to tie the game. It was Nylander’s second goal of the game, while Auston Matthews and Scott Laughton also found the back of the net. Joseph Woll allowed five goals on 35 shots.
Anthony Stolarz will likely get the start in net on Saturday. Stolarz had an easy night in his last start on Tuesday, stopping 17 of 19 shots faced in a blowout win over the Flyers. He’s won his last two starts, allowing five total goals over that span. Statistically, Stolarz has been a top-five goalie in the NHL this season, posting a 15-8-3 record with a 2.40 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings entered Thursday’s clash with Colorado riding a four-game winning streak in which they scored 20 total goals. The gravy train stopped in Denver, however, as L.A. was shut out for the fourth time this season. The loss shouldn’t overly faze the Kings, especially as they boast the best home record in the NHL this season. L.A. is 26-3-4 at Crypto.com Arena (don’t get me started on that name), outscoring opponents 113-92.
Darcy Kuemper is expected to start against Toronto. Kuemper is having a career-best season, posting a 25-9-7 record. His 2.10 GAA is second-best in the league and his.919 SV is third-best. Kuemper is riding a personal three-game win streak and he hasn’t allowed more than two goals in a start in nine straight games.
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