The Nashville Predators (36-31-9) and Los Angeles Kings (31-26-19) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 10:30 p.m. EDT at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Kings are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6 (-115o / -104u). The Kings are a -135 favorite to win outright, while the Predators are +115 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Predators vs. Kings predictions and NHL picks.
Predators vs. Kings Odds, Pick
| Predators Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -227 | 6 -115o / -104u | +115 |
| Kings Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +185 | 6 -115o / -104u | -135 |
- Predators vs. Kings Spread: Kings -1.5 (+185 ), Predators +1.5 (-227)
- Predators vs. Kings Over/Under: 6 (-115o / -104u)
- Predators vs. Kings Moneyline: Predators +115, Kings -135
Predators vs Kings Polymarket Odds
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Current odds: PRE 44% · KIN 56% · NHL
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Predators vs. Kings Preview
Nashville Predators
Nashville, who’s in the thick of a heated playoff battle, has been hanging around on the West Coast for quite a bit.
The Predators were meant to be believed as an afterthought, but here they are, with six games left, clinging onto a playoff spot.
This is a fascinating team. When you look at the season-long numbers, there’s not much to write home about. They’re playing to a 49.94 xGF and a 2.82 xGA/60 over the course of the season, which is fine, but as mediocre as you can get.
Even in the past two weeks, they have stayed fairly consistent in that range.
Goaltending has been somewhat of a mystery, though both Juuse Saros and Justus Annunen have played their best hockey in the most important stretch of the season.
Largely, this is a team that’s carried by its veterans. Filip Forsberg and Steven Stamkos are nearing 40 goals, with Ryan O’Reilly ranking second on the team in scoring. But they also have a solid young core that I’ve been impressed with.
Zach L’Heureux is hardly a difference maker on the scoresheet, but is an ultimate deterrent to opponents, while both Matthew Wood and Luke Evangelista are making significant contributions as well.
Again, they’re nothing special, but resilient? You bet. This team probably shouldn’t be where they are, but with six games to go and staying alive in the playoff race is a testament to this team.
Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles has been one of those teams all season that I have been down on. During the Olympics, I wrote a futures piece, and in that, I projected that the Kings would miss the playoffs.
As much as I’d like to see Anze Kopitar go out with one more playoff appearance, I think there needs to be serious work done on this roster.
There are some great bones with their youth, but GM Ken Holland still thinks he’s organizing a team from the 90s.
Firing Jim Hiller and inserting DJ Smith as the head coach was definitely a solid move for the team, though. The Kings’ 5-on-5 numbers have improved slightly, and they’ve found some success over the past two weeks.
The one problem here is their special teams. All season long, it’s been a total mess, scoring on the power play at a fourth-worst 17% clip, and a fourth-worst penalty kill at 75%.
You’re not going to go far in the playoffs if you can’t take advantage of the man advantage. But not only that, considering that they’re the 12th-least penalized team in the league, it’s even more concerning that they’re getting lit up that much.
L.A.’s goaltending has been just fine this season. I’ve been impressed with how well Anton Forsberg has played down the stretch, because Darcy Kuemper has been brutal since returning from the Olympics.
Predators vs. Kings Prediction
I think a lot of this depends on who’s in net.
Here you have two teams, tied in points duking it out for a neck-and-neck Western Conference playoff spot.
Nashville’s goaltending has been everything you’ve expected as of late, though the same can’t be said for Los Angeles.
The last time these two teams squared off was last week, when the Preds won in Tinseltown in a 5-4 shootout. And Kuemper was in net.
Kuemper, as mentioned, has been brutal, but he’s been even worse when facing high-danger shots. Over the last 10 games, the Predators have generated the eighth-most high-danger opportunities, while the Kings are 26th.
I wonder if coach Andrew Brunette will play Annunen this time, since Saros pulled the victory last week against the Kings. I don’t think either is a poor option, but Annunen has been more of a sure thing as of late, and he’s on an eight-day rest since his last game.
I think goaltending will be the answer tonight. L.A. will be more sound fundamentally, but either Saros or Annunen will silence the silver and black.
Pick: Predators ML (+114, DraftKings)
