The Anaheim Ducks are set to host the Los Angeles Kings tonight as hefty +225 home dogs.
With how historically bad the Ducks have been this season, should we expect anything less than a mugging from the Kings? Los Angeles has taken 11 of a possible 14 points over its last seven games and has scored 11 goals in two games since the restart.
Find out where the betting edge lies in our free NHL picks and predictions for Kings vs. Ducks on February 17.
Kings vs Ducks best odds
Kings vs Ducks picks and predictions
Los Angeles Kings forward Trevor Moore will be playing in his third game since returning from an upper-body injury that kept him on the shelf since Christmas. Before the injury, this was a player who collected at least three shots in 64% of his games and was a great Over target early in the season. It seems the books have forgotten the value of the winger as he now gets ready to face a defensively-challenged team.
It seems unfair at this point to pick on the Anaheim Ducks with shots. They’re allowing nearly 40 per game which could be the most allowed by a team in at least the last 50 years (I stopped researching at 1970-71).
Moore will be up to game speed for this one and has a solid role on this team playing with Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson on the second line and the power-play.
He’s averaging over 3.00 shots per game across 39 contents, including 3.6 shots per contest on the road. In those 20 road games, Moore is 15-5 to the Over on his SOG total.
The price should be way higher for this matchup, but some books are still giving us -130. Take advantage of the number before it becomes too inflated.
My best bet: Trevor Moore Over 2.5 shots on goal (-130)
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Kings vs Ducks moneyline analysis
Anaheim should lose this game convincingly, which is likely something the front office would prefer as the race to the worst record (and the best chance at No. 1 prospect Connor Bedard) is heating up between the Ducks, Blue Jackets, and Blackhawks.
The Ducks are giving it their best as they have the league’s worst GAA at 4.13, allow the most shots per game at 39.2, and have the worst goal differential by far (minus-92 across 55 games). Anaheim also possesses the worst power play and has the fifth-worst penalty kill in the NHL.
This is historically one of the worst hockey teams over the last two decades and the price reflects that.
Los Angeles opened at -230 but moved as short as -275 as of this afternoon. The Kings are in a tight divisional race in the Pacific and currently sit just three points back from the Golden Knights for the top spot. They’ve come out of the All-Star break hot winning both games with a goal differential of +10.
I don’t think we’ll see any surprises tonight. The Kings know the Ducks well and have won four straight meetings, giving up just five goals in the four victories.
The Ducks have given up 20 goals over their last three games, have a ton of trade deadline distractions, and are missing some key pieces in goaltender Anthony Stolarz, forward Troy Terry and defenseman Urho Vaakanainen.
It’s not a question of if Los Angeles will win, but rather by how much.
And with the Kings' puck line listed at just -110, I think that’s the play. Los Angeles starter Phoenix Copley is 5-0-1 in his last six and is 11-2-1 since the Christmas break, while the Ducks could be rolling with third-stringer Lukas Dostal in net tonight.
Kings vs Ducks Over/Under analysis
The total opened at 6.5 and has been juiced to -125 for the Over. Anaheim has seen the Over hit in three straight and in seven of it last 10 while the Kings are 5-1 to the Over in their last six and 7-3 to the O/U in their last 10. I think this game will attract a high handle to the Over that could ultimately drive the price shorter.
The Kings will be doing most of the work here but don’t be surprised if the Ducks contribute as well.
Copley has been picking up a ton of wins in 2023, but his offense has been supporting him as well. In his last 15 games, he’s 11-3 straight up but owns a .889 SV% with a 2.87 GAA. The 31-year-old is an average goalie at best and has succeeded thanks to a Los Angeles scoring unit that has provided him nearly 4.00 goals per game since Christmas.
We can expect the Ducks to get us to two goals — something they’ve done in 14 straight games — while the Kings should flirt with five. This is the No.8 offense in hockey that faces the most generous team in goals allowed and shots allowed.
I like the the Over in this one, but I also think there’s some value in backing the Kings’ team total at Over 4.5 (+155).
Kings vs Ducks betting trend to know
The Over is 8-0 in Los Angeles' last eight games following a win. Find more NHL betting trends for Kings vs Ducks.
Kings vs Ducks game info
| Location: | Honda Center, Anaheim, CA |
| Date: | Friday, February 17, 2023 |
| Puck drop: | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
