The Winnipeg Jets (9-3-0) and Los Angeles Kings (5-4-4) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 10:30 p.m. EST 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 (-110o / -110u). The Kings are a -120 favorite to win outright, while the Jets are +100 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Jets vs. Kings predictions and NHL picks.
Jets vs. Kings Odds, Pick
| Jets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -263 | 5.5 -110o / -110u | +100 |
| Kings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +210 | 5.5 -110o / -110u | -120 |
- Jets vs. Kings Spread: Kings -1.5 (+210 ), Jets +1.5 (-263)
- Jets vs. Kings Over/Under: 5.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Jets vs. Kings Moneyline: Jets +100, Kings -120
Jets vs. Kings Preview
Winnipeg Jets
Hand up, I was bearish on the Jets this season, but in my defense, there was no real answer for replacing the loss of Nikolaj Ehlers.
Turns out that the big three of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi are more than comfortable picking up that slack.
I very much wonder how much longer Winnipeg can keep this up, though, unless it figures out its 5-on-5 deficiencies. The Jets are doing most of their damage in special teams, with a top-10 power play and a top-five penalty kill.
But at 5-on-5, they’re bottom-five on both the offensive and defensive ends.
Well, thank god for Connor Hellebuyck, then, right? If the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner wasn’t playing for the Jets, then who knows where they would be?
Currently, he’s playing up to his usual standard, posting a .921 SV% and a 9.6 GSAx.
Los Angeles Kings
There’s a lot of talent on this Kings squad, but they just can’t seem to win at home.
Just on Saturday, they fell to the New Jersey Devils by the score of 4-1, and lost in a shootout to the Red Wings on Thursday – both at home.
This all being after Los Angeles went 4-0-1 on a road trip.
Adrian Kempe continues to light up the scoreboard, as has Kevin Fiala, and even the ageless wonder Corey Perry is still putting numbers on the board.
But the problem is that there’s no pace to this team; it’s just vanilla. Part of that has to do with the roster being on the older side, but a lot of it also has to do with how poorly the special teams have done.
Factor in that Darcy Kuemper has been less-than-stellar to start the season, it’s no wonder that not everything is so shiny in Tinseltown.
As of now, Kuemper is playing to an .891 SV% and a 3.6 GSAx, but backup Anton Forsberg hasn’t been much better either.
Jets vs. Kings Prediction
While the Kings haven’t won at home yet this season, I’d be remiss to say that the Jets are undefeated on the road, have won three in a row, and are 8-2 in their last 10.
I don’t know what’s so scary about the Kings playing in front of their home fans, but something needs to change if they want to make captain Anze Kopitar’s last season the best one.
I expect Hellebuyck to be in between the pipes tonight because Eric Comrie started in the Saturday win against Pittsburgh, and in that case, I’m always riding with Hellebuyck.
And this is with information that he actually holds a career .902 SV% against the Kings.
He’s the best goaltender in the world, and while playing in Los Angeles hasn’t always been kind to him, I’ll still gladly take my chances on riding with him.
At plus-money odds? I wouldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t at least take a flier on Winnipeg here.
Pick: Jets Moneyline +100
