Two teams squaring off for the first time this season, the Los Angeles Kings and the Montreal Canadiens meet at Bell Centre in a cross-continent matchup. This one will get started at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 11 and it’ll air live on Fox Sports West.
Los Angeles Kings at Montreal Canadiens Odds
Montreal is 1-1 straight up (SU) and has earned 1.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage hasn’t moved much from the 29-53 record the team produced during the 2017-18 season campaign.
The Canadiens have successfully found the net on 14.3 percent of their power play opportunities in 2018-19. That’s a big drop-off from last year, when they were ranked ninth in the league by scoring on 21.3 percent of their extra-man chances. Their penalty kill has gotten stronger year-over-year as they’ve gone from successfully defending 74.1 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 30th overall last season) to 83.3 percent this year.
The Canadiens, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.0 times per game this season, a number that’s improved from last year’s 3.8 penalties per game they surrendered. After serving an average of 8.6 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has had to kill penalties for just 6.0 minutes per matchup this year.
With a .917 save percentage and 22.0 saves per game, Carey Price (1-1-1) has been the best goalkeeper for Montreal this year.
Los Angeles is 1-2 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this year. A total of two of its matches have gone under the total, while one has gone over and none have pushed.
The Kings have scored on 0.0 percent of their power play chances this year after converting on 19.8 percent of their extra-man opportunities last season (a mark that was right at league average). The team’s gone from successfully defending 85.3 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked first overall last season) to 70.0 percent this year.
Los Angeles’ players have been penalized 4.7 times per game this season, a number that has climbed some from the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.8 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to kill penalties for a whopping 13.0 minutes per matchup this year.
Jack Campbell (36.5 saves per game) has been the main choice in the net for Los Angeles. Campbell owns a 1-1 record, and has registered a .948 save percentage and 2.03 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Kings will be Alex Iafallo (two goals, two assists) and Tyler Toffoli (one goal, two assists).
Los Angeles Kings at Montreal Canadiens Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
Montreal was 2-6 in in shootouts last season while Los Angeles was 2-1 in games that went to a shootout.
Los Angeles has yet to lose a game by two more more goals this season.
Los Angeles skaters registered 27.3 hits per game last season, while the Canadiens logged 26.5 hits per matchup.
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