The All-Star game last weekend was a rousing success, but the fun of that weekend is over, and now it’s time for every team to start focusing on the home stretch of the season and the NHL betting odds to reach the postseason. The division races are all close, while the battle for playoff spots loos like it is going to go down to the wire as always. There were some diehard hockey fans who did not like the alignment of divisions and the playoff set-up a few years back, but it has proven to make things very exciting in both conferences.
In the Western Conference, the Nashville Predator appears to be in a comfortable spot in second place in the Central Division, but things are a little crazier in the Pacific. The upstart Las Vegas Knights are pulling away in that division and the fight for the remaining playoff spots is incredibly tight. The LA Kings are right in the thick of things but are well aware that a couple of losses could send them below the playoff line in a heartbeat. The Kings take to the road on Thursday night to face the Predators in what should be a highly entertaining match-up.
The Predators are much like the Kings in that they more often than not get the job done on defense and are in the top 5 in conceded goals average. While they are middle of the pack in goals scored per game, the Predators power play unit has been great this season. Team’s who come in and play undisciplined hockey against Nashville tend to pay the price.
Los Angeles at Nashville NHL Betting Odds & Game Preview
Paul LaDue’s first NHL goal? Definitely qualifies for @getjackblack‘s High Performance Play of the Game!#GetJackBlack pic.twitter.com/g4K2d0oWjH
— LA Kings (@LAKings) 1 de febrero de 2018
- When: Thursday, February 1 at 8:30 PM EST
- Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
- TV: NBCSN
- Radio: 790 AM (Los Angeles) / 104.5 FM (Nashville)
- NHL Betting Odds: Nashville Predators -1.5 (Over/Under at 5.5 goals)
Team Records
- All: LA Kings 27-18-5 / Nashville Predators 29-12-7
- Home: LA Kings 12-9-3 / Nashville Predators 16-5-3
- Away: LA Kings 15-9-2 / Nashville Predators 13-7-4
- ATS: LA Kings 24-26 / Nashville Predators 24-24
- Over/Under: LA Kings 21-27-2 / Nashville Predators 23-25
Head to Head (Last 10 Games)
- Record: Los Angeles Kings 5-3-2 / Nashville Predators 5-1-4
- Score: Los Angeles Kings 3.10 / Nashville Predators 3.00
- Shots: Los Angeles Kings 31.50 / Nashville Predators 27.40
- Power Play Goals: Los Angeles Kings 8 / Nashville Predators 7
- Number of Power Plays: Los Angeles Kings 29 / Nashville Predators 31
- Power Play Percentage: Los Angeles Kings 27.59 / Nashville Predators 22.58
- Penalty Kill Percentage: Los Angeles Kings 77.42 / Nashville Predators 72.41
Why consider the Kings NHL Betting Odds?
The Kings are currently in 3rd place in the Pacific Division, which would be good enough for an automatic playoff berth if the season were to end today. It does not, though, and the Kings lead on the chasing pack is a tenuous one, with just a single point separating them from the Calgary Flames in 5th. This will be the 4th game on this current road trip for LA, who has bounced back nicely with a pair of wins after getting hammered 6-2 by the Vancouver Canucks on the opening game of this trip. Giving up that many goals were certainly a surprise, especially when you consider that the Kings are tops in the league in goals-against average at 2.4 GPG. It has been their success on the penalty kill, where they are also first overall, that has helped make them such a tough nut to crack. The Kings come into this one with a 15-9-2 road record.Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 2.84
- Shots: 30.82
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.05
- Goals: 2.42
- Shots: 31.24
- PP/PK Percentage: 13.79
Why consider the Predators NHL Betting Odds?
As mentioned earlier, the Nashville Predators are in very good shape in the Central Division, sitting 3 points behind Winnipeg in for the top spot. Barring a total collapse in the last couple of months of the regular season, the Predators look like a team destined for the playoffs. They have been incredibly consistent all season long and are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games. They have been particularly tough to beat in their own building, going 16-5-3 thus far.
The Predators are much like the Kings in that they more often than not get the job done on defense and are in the top 5 in conceded goals average. While they are middle of the pack in goals scored per game, the Predators power play unit has been great this season. Team’s who come in and play undisciplined hockey against Nashville tend to pay the price.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 3.04
- Shots: 30.77
- PP/PK Percentage: 23.67
- Goals: 2.60
- Shots: 32.46
- PP/PK Percentage: 17.13
Latest NHL Betting Trends
- Los Angeles is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
- Los Angeles is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Los Angeles’s last 7 games
- Nashville is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games
- Nashville is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Nashville’s last 11 games
