The NHL regular season will come to a close this weekend, and while some teams will be preparing for the playoffs, there are others who will simply be playing out the string after a disappointing season. There has been a definite power shift in the Western Conference this season, with many of the teams that we have become used to seeing in the playoffs missing out in a big way this time around.

One of the teams that will be missing out is the LA Kings, a team that have won the Stanley Cup twice in the last decade. They are on outside looking in this time around though, plus they are in possession of the worst record in the NHL, which is a real fall from grace. They have not been a great bet this season, but the same can be said for their Friday night opponents, the Anaheim Ducks. They have also been disappointing this season, but unlike the Kings, they are finishing strong. The Ducks are favored by 1 ½, with the O/U for this one set at 5 ½.

Kings vs Ducks NHL Betting Lines, Game Info & Prediction

Kicking off the final homestand with a win!#LetsGoDucks | #CGYvsANA pic.twitter.com/KhOegg1gwx

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) 4 de abril de 2019

• When: Friday, April 5 at 7 PM EST
• Where: Honda Center, Anaheim
• TV: NHL Center Ice
• Live Stream: NHL.tv
• NHL Odds: Anaheim Ducks -165 (Total 5.5)

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Why bet on the LA Kings?

The only real thing that the Kings have left to play for over the weekend is to avoid having the worst record in the league. They are at the bottom of the heap right now, but just 1 point back of the New Jersey Devils, the team with the second-worst record. With a total of just 69 points on the season, the Kings have had difficulties getting wins anywhere, but they have been particularly poor on the road, where they are currently 14-20-6.

If there are any positives to be taken from this season, it is that they have had the number of the Anaheim Ducks, beating them in all 3 previous meetings this season, including a 3-2 win on the road. They have bee good against the spread away from home, too, going 23-17 ATS.

Team Stats

• Goals: 2.44
• Shots: 28.50
• PP/PK Percentage: 15.96

Defense

• Goals: 3.20
• Shots: 31.42
• PP/PK Percentage: 24.12

Why bet on the Anaheim Ducks?

It would have been easy for the Ducks to simply fade into oblivion after being officially eliminated from playoff contention, but they are actually playing some of their best hockey of the season right now. Over the last 10 games, the Ducks have gone 6-3-1, which includes their current 2-game win streak.

Even when the Ducks were at their strongest over the past few years, they always had trouble scoring. It has been more of the same this year, as they have managed just 194 goals all season, 1 less than what the LA Kings have scored this season. The Ducks have a winning record at home, going 18-14-8, while also posting a record of 21-19 ATS in home games. They need to get the win here if they are to avoid the regular season sweep at the hands of the LA Kings.

Team Stats

• Goals: 2.40
• Shots: 27.64
• PP/PK Percentage: 17.06

Defense

• Goals: 3.07
• Shots: 33.07
• PP/PK Percentage: 20.68

Kings vs Ducks NHL Betting Trends

• Los Angeles is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
• Los Angeles is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games on the road
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Los Angeles’s last 6 games
• Anaheim is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
• Anaheim is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Anaheim’s last 5 games at home

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

If there is one thing that we can expect from this game, it might well be a distinct lack of scoring. Neither of these two is what you would call offensively gifted, which should help keep this one close. I’m on the Ducks to win and the Kings to cover.

Score: LA Kings 2 – Anaheim Ducks 3