The Nashville Predators (34-31-9) and Los Angeles Kings (29-26-18) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 10:30 p.m. EDT at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Kings are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 5.5 (-125o / +105u). The Kings are a -122 favorite to win outright, while the Predators are +102 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Predators vs. Kings predictions and NHL picks.
Predators vs. Kings Odds, Pick
| Predators Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -247 | 5.5 -125o / +105u | +102 |
| Kings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +199 | 5.5 -125o / +105u | -122 |
- Predators vs. Kings Spread: Kings -1.5 (+199 ), Predators +1.5 (-247)
- Predators vs. Kings Over/Under: 5.5 (-125o / +105u)
- Predators vs. Kings Moneyline: Predators +102, Kings -122
Predators vs. Kings Preview
Nashville Predators
Nashville has not played since Sunday, so at the very least, the Predators should have fresh legs for what amounts to a huge game in the Wild Card race.
The numbers over its last 10 games are not flattering. Nashville ranks 30th in expected goal differential at -10.13, sitting 28th in both xGF and xGA while averaging just 2.75 GF/60.
On paper, it looks like a team treading water, but Nashville went 5-1-1 over the seven games before dropping its last three. What has kept them in the race is allowing the sixth-fewest goals against over that stretch, backed by a -10 goals against above the expected mark. That points directly to its goaltending.
Justus Annunen has been an excellent complement to Juuse Saros, posting a .921 SV% and +8.1 GSAx over his last 10 games. Saros has been solid as well, adding a 5.2 GSAx and .905 SV% in his last 10.
No starter has been confirmed for tonight, and there has not been much of a pattern to the decision lately. Annunen drew the start Sunday in Tampa Bay and has played slightly better of late, but Nashville still views Saros as the clear number one.
Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles picked up a crucial overtime win at home against St. Louis last night, keeping its grip on the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, but just barely.
The Kings hold a one-point edge over both San Jose and Nashville, with five teams now within four points of that spot.
The Kings' path to this point has not been pretty. They continue to struggle to generate consistent offense, ranking 23rd in xGF over its last 10 games, but the defense has more than compensated, checking in third in xGA over that same stretch.
It's a formula that tends to keep them in enough games, and in the playoff race, for that matter. Los Angeles has gone to overtime 29 times this season, more than any team in the league, and holds the first Wild Card spot despite having the third-lowest win total in the West.
In net, Anton Forsberg handled the crease last night, which sets up Darcy Kuemper to get the nod tonight.
March was somewhat of a mixed bag for Kuemper, as he posted a .891 SV% and 2.65 GAA across 10 starts, but there were some solid performances scattered throughout, including a shutout last Thursday in Vancouver and an outstanding outing against Boston earlier in the month.
Predators vs. Kings Prediction
This is a massive game in the standings with two weeks left in the regular season.
Both teams rank in the bottom ten in xGF over their last 10 games, yet both have done a reasonable job limiting damage on the other end.
Los Angeles is third in xGA over that stretch, while Nashville has leaned more on goaltending and generated a -10 goals against above expected mark. The difference, however slight, is that I trust Nashville's goaltending to get the job done against a Kings team that has had a little more trouble finding the net.
The three-day break also feels like it came at the perfect time for the Predators. They dropped three straight heading into it, including a tough 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday that easily could have gone the other way.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles is playing the second half of a back-to-back after grinding through overtime last night. The Kings are 11-17-8 at home this season, so Nashville making the trip to Crypto.com Arena is not much of a concern.
I’ll take the fresher team tonight.
Pick: Predators Moneyline (+105)
