Kings vs Avalanche Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Offense Dries up in Friday Night Tilt

The Colorado Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings in the late window of Friday’s NHL slate.

NHL odds have the Avalanche as home favorites while the total sits at 6.0 or 6.5 across the board. Los Angeles claimed a 4-1 victory the last time these two teams squared off, which cashed the Under.

Will we see another low-scoring affair, or can the goal-scoring pick up this time around? Find out in my free NHL picks for Kings vs. Avalanche on January 26.

Kings vs Avalanche odds

Kings vs Avalanche predictions

Goaltender David Rittich is slated to guard the cage for the Los Angeles Kings on Friday evening and should be a good candidate to back. While it is a limited sample size, Rittich has thrived this season, as he is 4-1-2 with a commanding .930 SV% and 1.76 GAA through eight appearances in the crease.

Making Rittich’s job easy is the fact that he plays behind one of the best two-way teams in hockey. This season, the Kings rank in the Top 10 of the league in goals allowed per game, shots on goal allowed per game, penalty kill percentage, and penalty minutes taken per game.

The Kings underlying metrics also suggest that regression is unlikely as they rank eighth in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5. However, things get a little shakier when it comes to Los Angeles’ offense, as it hovers around the league average in goals scored per game and PP%.

It could be especially troubling for this offense to produce against a capable Alexander Georgiev and the Colorado Avalanche.

The Avs netminder is 4-2 over his past six starts with a .907 SV% and 2.86 GAA. This success is likely to continue against the Kings, a team in which he boasts a .914 SV% and 3.00 GAA across six starts.

The Avs possess a powerhouse offense, and Nathan MacKinnon is currently firing on all cylinders. However, if any team can tame them, it is Los Angeles.

My best bet: Under 6 (+105 at DraftKings)

Kings vs Avalanche same-game parlay

Under 6

Avalanche moneyline

+250 at DraftKings

While I expect Los Angeles to keep things close, this game should still be Colorado’s to lose. The Avs are better offensively and boast a home-ice advantage.

Meanwhile, Georgiev is turning his season around and has a strong record against the Kings, which should stack up against Rittich and his success in his small sample size thus far. The one area where Los Angeles has been better this year is defensively, but I have faith in Cale Makar and Devon Toews to continue to work to suppress high-danger scoring chances.

In terms of recent play, the Avalanche have won seven of their past 10 games, while the Kings have lost eight of their past 10.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Kings vs Avalanche moneyline and Over/Under analysis

The Avalanche opened as a –142 favorite and were quickly bet up to -146. I think the market is going to keep inflating this line as the Avs typically draw more action than the Kings, especially in this circumstance when you look at both teams’ recent form.

That brings us to the total, which has bounced between six and 6.5, depending on the book. At plus-money, I would rather take Under 6 than lay a larger number on 6.5.

Kings vs Avalanche betting trend to know

Los Angeles has hit the game total Under in 45 of its past 83 games. Find more NHL betting trends for Kings vs. Avalanche.

Kings vs Avalanche game info

Kings vs Avalanche latest injuries

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