The Chicago Blackhawks (11-9-6) and Los Angeles Kings (12-7-7) meet Thursday in the front end of a back-to-back. Puck drop from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+ / Hulu). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Blackhawks vs. Kings and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Kings leads 1-0
The Kings won 3-1 as favorites (-157) on Oct. 26 at United Center in Chicago in the first meeting as the Under (6) cashed. G Anton Forsberg made 22 saves and LW Kevin Fiala was credited with the game-winning goal, while C Connor Bedard accounted for the only goal for the home side.
Chicago suffered a 4-3 shootout loss at the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday as the Over (6) cashed. The Blackhawks tumbled to just 1-4-2 across the past 7 games, and the Over has cashed in 4 in a row. Chicago has allowed 15 goals in the past 4 games, or 3.8 goals per game (GPG), while conceding 4.2 GPG in the past 6 outings.
L.A. was on the short end of a 3-1 score against the Washington Capitals Tuesday, failing as slight favorites (-115) as the Under (5.5) hit. The offense has struggled for the Kings lately, totaling just 15 goals in the past 8 outings, or 1.9 GPG, while the Under is 4-1 in the past 5 games, and 6-2 in the previous 8 outings.
Blackhawks at Kings odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:43 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Blackhawks +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Kings -220 (bet $220 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Blackhawks +1.5 (-140) | Kings -1.5 (+115)Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Blackhawks at Kings projected goalies
Spencer Knight (8-5-5, 2.52 GAA, .917 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Darcy Kuemper (8-5-5, 2.37 GAA, .908 SV%, 1 SO)
Knight is expected to be in between the pipes for the visitors. He stopped 25 of the 28 shots he faced against the Golden Knights on Tuesday. Knight has coughed up at least 3 goals in 3 straight outings, a total of 10 goals on 78 shots, while going 1-0-2 in the span.
Kuemper stopped 22-of-24 shots he faced against the Washington Capitals Tuesday, but the offense let him down. He has allowed 2 or fewer goals in 4 of his past 5 starts, but he has just a single victory to show for his efforts, with the Kings providing just 9 goals of support, or 1.8 GPG.
Blackhawks at Kings picks and predictionsPrediction
Kings 3, Blackhawks 2
The Kings (-220) are too expensive, costing in excess of 2 times your potential return. With the offense struggling lately, it’s way too much risk for not nearly enough reward, either as a standalone play or part of a multi-leg parlay. Even with a boost or promo, L.A. is not a recommended play.
PASS.
The BLACKHAWKS +1.5 (-140) aren’t priced out of line if you’d like a little bit of insurance, but you just cannot trust Chicago straight up.
It did lose on home ice against the Kings in the first meeting, but Chicago also had backup G Arvid Soderblom in the crease. With Knight in there, the fate could be much different for the visitors.
UNDER 5.5 (-110) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at best.
The Under is 4-1 in the past 5 games for the Kings, and 6-2 across the previous 8 outings. For the Blackhawks, the Over has hit in 4 in a row, but the offense has totaled 19 goals in the past 7 games, or 2.7 GPG. It should have trouble solving Kuemper in a surprisingly low-scoring affair.
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