Kings continue their slump with a loss in low-scoring game versus Predators
With the Kings’ top offensive players in a slump, and the team having broken a long losing streak by enduring the Carolina Hurricanes, can they overcome a team with only a slightly worse record? Smashville has won five of its last ten games, and the Kings have only won one. The Kings have lost three of their last five meetups.
It looks like a close game, with the vicious, cold-blooded Predators keeping it up against a falling Kings team trying to reclaim their throne. If you want to get in on the action and enhance your viewing experience, here is our best bets for tonight’s matchup between the Predators and Kings.
All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Please gamble responsibly
Pick: Predators ML (+134)
While the odds are roughly even, the Predators can expect a narrow victory. If the Kings want to win tonight, they need to fix their weaknesses. One weakness is their offense, making it easier for the Preds’ slightly below average defense. The Predators have let in average of three goals per game over their last ten but they may not be challenged by an underwhelming Anze Kopitar, who has not scored a goal in nine games, and Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore, who have both averaged less than a point in the last 10 games.
The Predators’ offense, meanwhile, has been decent, averaging 2.70 goals in the past 10 games. It has been youth-centric lately, with 21-year-old Luke Evangelista scoring two goals in the past two games and 22-year-old Juuso Parssinen scoring a goal in their second-last game. In net for the Kings is 36-year-old Cam Talbot, who has allowed a total of 20 goals in his last five games alone and has not won a game since just before Christmas.
Pick: Under 6.0 goals (-110)
Don’t expect a prolific game. There is a chance that over five would work out, but it’s very unlikely. The Predators’ offense may be underwhelming overall, but it’s better than the Kings, who have averaged a measly 2.3 goals in the last ten games. Nevertheless, it’s not a lot. While the odds of either team are even, it seems foreseeable that neither team will score much.