The Los Angeles Kings are arguably the worst team in the Western Conference, while the Arizona Coyotes are battling for a Pacific Division title. They meet in the desert on Thursday with the Coyotes solidly favored on the Mybookie NHL odds. It’s the second of a back-to-back for both.
How to Bet Kings vs Coyotes NHL Betting Lines & Game Info
- When: Thursday, 9:30 PM ET
- Where: Gila River Arena, Phoenix
- TV: NHL Center Ice
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- Radio: SiriusXM
- NHL Betting Lines: Arizona Coyotes -168 (Total 5.5)
Why Bet on Los Angeles?
The Kings played well in the last meeting between these teams, losing 3-2 in Los Angeles on Nov. 23. Arizona’s Lawson Crouse scored the go-ahead goal before a scary fall that forced him to leave the game. Phil Kessel and Christian Fischer also scored for the Coyotes. Antti Raanta made 43 saves for Arizona, which was outshot 45-18.Crouse’s goal off a rebound in the second period put Arizona ahead 2-1. He left the game in the third period after he fell and hit his head awkwardly into the boards. Anze Kopitar and Nikolai Prokhorkin scored for the Kings. Jonathan Quick stopped 16 shots.
Winger Martin Frk rocked a clapper of 109.2 mph in the AHL All-Star Skills Competition to win the hardest shot title over the weekend. Matt Luff has been recalled from the minors by Los Angeles. Luff has split time between the NHL and AHL this season. He has one goal and four assists in 17 games with the Kings this season.
Some Doubts
Top blueliner Drew Doughty, who left Sunday’s practice early with an undisclosed injury and didn’t practice on Monday or Tuesday, was expected to sit Wednesday. If he did, that would be his first regular season game missed since a shoulder injury sidelined him for the final four games of the 2013-14 regular season. With 460 consecutive games played, Doughty is the LA Kings’ franchise leader and ranks fifth among active NHL players, trailing Keith Yandle (846), Patrick Marleau (835), Phil Kessel (825) and Brent Burns (522). In 50 games this season, Doughty has six goals, 27 points, and a minus-11 rating.While the Kings are awful, they have been in 18 one-goal games, the sixth-highest total in the NHL. On the downside, they’ve lost nine games by a single score, more than any other team but the Montreal Canadiens, who have split their 20 one-goal games. With the Feb. 24 trade deadline less a month away, the Kings will likely be sellers as they have seven pending unrestricted free agents in their organization.
Why Bet on Arizona?
For the first time since the 2011-12 season, the Coyotes look to be ready to make a return to the postseason. Up until the week before the All-Star break, the Coyotes were leading the Pacific Division.The Coyotes hosted the Kings on Nov. 18 and rolled 3-0. Conor Garland had a goal and an assist, Derek Stepan also scored and Christian Dvorak and Nick Schmaltz had two assists apiece as the Coyotes. Antti Raanta had 31 saves in the shutout. Raanta denied a breakaway attempt by Austin Wagner with 10:32 to play. Jack Campbell made 24 saves for Los Angeles. The Kings got a pair of power plays in the first 8:30 of the second period, but couldn’t convert and went 0 for 4 on the night.
Center Nick Schmaltz is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is in question. He has seven goals and 35 points in 51 contests in 2019-20. Fellow center Brad Richardson is considered to be day-to-day. Coach Rick Tocchet said this week that Richardson is close to being cleared for full practices. He hasn’t played since Jan. 14 because of a lower-body injury.
No. 1 netminder Darcy Kuemper took part in Tuesday’s practice. Coach Rick Tocchet said that Kuemper “is getting better every day and the break has really helped with the rehabilitation.” Kuemper netminder hasn’t played since Dec. 19 because of a lower-body injury. He didn’t play Wednesday but it’s possible he will Thursday.
If not, it should be Adin Hill because Antti Raanta played Wednesday. Hill was called up from the AHL earlier this week. He has a 2-2-1 record with a 2.40 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in nine appearances with Arizona this season.
Kings vs Coyotes NHL Betting Trends
- Home team is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings
- Favorite is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings
- Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings
- Kings are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Los Angeles’ last 6 games against an opponent in the Pacific division
- Coyotes are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games this season
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Arizona’s last 7 games at home
