NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Predators vs Kings (Thursday, February 22)
(Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) Pictured: David Rittich
Predators vs. Kings Odds
| Predators Odds | +125 |
| Kings Odds | -150 |
| Over / Under | 6 -105o / -115u |
Here's everything you need to know about the Nashville Predators vs. Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, February – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
These clubs squared off a couple weeks ago and Los Angeles claimed a 4-2 victory. Will the Kings take care of business once again? Or will the Predators even the score?
Let's dig into the odds and make a Predators vs. Kings prediction.
It has been a difficult couple of weeks for Nashville, which has eight of its past 13 games. Of those eight losses, six have come by at least a two-goal margin.
There are multiple factors for this trend, starting with poor offensive play. The Predators rank 19th in the league or lower in goals scored per game, power play percentage and shooting percentage.
Things haven't gone much better defensively as Nashville ranks 20th or lower in goals allowed per game, shots on goal allowed per game, penalty kill percentage and penalty minutes taken per game. The Predators allow high danger scoring chances at a high level and rank in the bottom half of the league in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5.
Backing up this poor two-way team is goaltender Juuse Saros, who has struggled to deal with the poor product in front of him. Through 44 starts this season, Saros is 21-21-2 with a .902 SV% and a 3.02 GAA.
He has allowed three or more goals in five of his past six starts. In that span, he's posted a 2-3-1 record with a .895 SV% and a 3.72 GAA.
There is little to like about the Predators, but plenty to like about the Kings. First, they rank in the top half of the league in goals scored per game, shots on goal per game and power play percentage.
They create high danger scoring chances at an elite level and rank third in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at 5-on-5. Meanwhile, this team is even better defensively, ranking in the top five in goals allowed per game, shots on goal allowed per game and penalty kill percentage.
Los Angeles also suppresses high danger scoring chances, ranking seventh in xGA/60 at 5-on-5. Backing up this elite two-way team is goaltender David Rittich, who is slated to go against his former team in this matchup.
Through 15 appearances this season, Rittich is 8-2-3 with a .919 SV% and a 2.25 GAA. He was starting opposite of Saros in that aforementioned 4-2 win over the Predators.
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Predators vs. Kings
Betting Pick & Prediction
Los Angeles is better offensively, defensively and (in terms of this season's results) in net.
Furthermore, Rittich may have a chip on his shoulder going against his former team. Through five career starts against Nashville, he is 3-1-1 with a commanding .912 SV%.
We saw this Rittich vs. Saros matchups in January and the Kings came out on top. I think we'll see a similar result this time around.
Pick: Kings -1.5 (+155 at bet365 | Play to +150)
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