Montreal Canadiens vs. Los Angeles Kings: NHL Odds, Prediction

The Los Angeles Kings are the last team to remain unbeaten in regulation – and they’ll put their impressive point streak on the line Wednesday night against the visiting Montreal Canadiens. The Kings have used sensational defence, goaltending and penalty killing to rise to the top of the Pacific Division ledger, and they’ll look to keep the good times rolling against a Canadiens team that has stumbled out of the gate with just one win in their first six games.

Canadiens vs. Kings

Moneyline: Kings -170

Date: Wednesday, October 17, 10:30 p.m. ET

Staples Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

NHL Odds and Betting Analysis

Regardless of who tends goal for the Canadiens, the Kings should remain a comfortable favorite in this one by virtue of their elite goal prevention. Los Angeles has surrendered just nine goals through its first five games, a major reason for the team claiming nine out of a possible 10 points on the season while going 2-0-1 on their current four-game homestand. Montreal, on the other hand, is a flat 0-6 against the moneyline while producing just 10 goals through six games.

In totals play, look to this game as a potential low-scoring affair given the Kings’ vaunted D and the Canadiens’ goal-scoring problems. Montreal has also been a solid road under play dating back to last season, playing at or below the total in 21 of its 26 previous games away from the Bell Centre. The Kings have exhibited a similar trend against East foes, playing at or below the total in 20 of their last 26 contests against the conference.

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens haven’t had an elite power-play unit in five years, but this year has been rough even by their standards. Montreal has converted just 9.1 percent of its man-advantage chances to date, good for 27th in the league. Several players are off to ice-cold starts, but none worse than Max Pacioretty, who had 35 goals last season but has just one through his first six games. On a positive note, Jonathan Drouin has four points in his last two contests.

Los Angeles Kings

Much of the focus has been on Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (1.74 GAA, .943 save percentage), but a few of the forwards deserve credit for the hot start, as well. Anze Kopitar is well on his way to putting last year’s 52-point performance behind him with eight points through five games, while Dustin Brown has added seven points over that stretch. The Kings’ early season success has moved the team to +351 on the Sports Interaction NHL odds board to win the Pacific Division crown.

Canadiens vs. Kings Prediction

Kings 3, Canadiens 2