Friday night gives us a classic battle of California as the Los Angeles Kings visit the Anaheim Ducks. Only two points separate the two clubs who are in a dog fight for the bottom playoff spots in the Western Conference.
Can the Kings win their sixth straight road game? Can the Ducks build off two consecutive wins against the Canucks and Sharks? Find out in our free NHL picks and predictions for Kings vs. Ducks.
Kings vs Ducks odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
This game opened as a pick ‘em and has since moved to -115 in favor of the Kings with a total of 5.5 leaning to the Over. These two teams met in L.A. back in November with the Ducks winning 5-4 in a shootout as +110 road dogs and a closing total of 5.5.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Kings vs Ducks predictions
Predictions made on 2/25/2022 at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Kings vs Ducks game info
• Location: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA
• Date: Friday, February 25, 2022
• Puck drop: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports SoCal, Bally Sports San Diego
Kings vs Ducks betting preview
Key injuries
Kings: Lias Andersson F (Out).
Ducks: Josh Manson D (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Kings vs Ducks head-to-head record last 10 games
Kings: 4-6 SU, 30 goals for.
Ducks: 6-4 SU, 30 goals for.
Betting trend to know
The Over is 6-0 in the Ducks’ last six games as an underdog. Find more NHL betting trends for Kings vs. Ducks.
Kings vs Ducks picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Moneyline analysis
The Los Angeles Kings are flying under the radar as a darkhorse team in the West. They’ve lost just one game in regulation over their last 10 games and are starting to climb the Western Conference standings. They’re on a three-game winning streak and haven’t lost a road game in regulation since January 17.
The Kings have also taken care of business against poor teams, as tonight's visitors are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games versus teams with a losing record. The Kings’ last six wins have come against teams like the Coyotes (x2) and Red Wings, but they’ve also beaten the Golden Knights, Pens and Islanders over that stretch. This is the best form the team has been in all season.
Looking at the forward group, nothing really pops off, but the Anze Kopitar line has been one of the most consistent lines all season, while the second line of Arvidsson-Danault-Moore has been contributing and can shut down lines. The bottom-six is also very interesting as it is a great mix of young talent (Quinton Byfield), speed (Andreas Anthanasiou), and toughness (Dustin Brown and Brendan Lemieux). Add in Drew Doughty, who is healthy and has seven points over his last six games, and this is a well-rounded group.
This great blend of role players sits third in the league in shots on net, second in Fenwick%, fifth in expected goals and eighth in goal%. This is a dominant 5-on-5 team and could do even more damage if their goaltending gets hot.
The Ducks come into tonight’s matchup allowing 4.80 goals per game in February, which is by far the worst mark in hockey. They’ve dropped four of their last six games and recently needed extra time to win as -150 home favorites versus the Sharks. Anaheim’s last four wins have come against the Sharks, Canucks, Senators and Canadiens — all losing record teams.
In the previous meeting in November, the Ducks jumped out to a 3-1 third-period lead, but the Kings scored three consecutive goals late in the third to send it to extra time where the Ducks won in a shootout.
The Ducks sit in the bottom half of the league in most important 5-on-5 metrics while the goaltending has been failing them of late. John Gibson has allowed 19 goals over his last four games, including at least four in each, while backup Anthony Stolarz has given up three or more goals in all of his last five starts.
Gibson also saw the Kings five times last season and finished with a .892 SV% and gave up five power-play goals. The penalty kill could hurt the Ducks again tonight, as they’ve surrendered five PP goals over their last four games.
The Kings were -125 at home in the last meeting, which would put this line closer to +115 or +120. That makes tonight’s -115 LA ML price quite short. If you’re a line shopper, then the Ducks are likely your play here, but the Kings have been playing much better and the Ducks just can’t keep the puck out of the net right now. We are forgoing the value on the ML and backing the better team.
Prediction: Kings ML (-115)
Over/Under analysis
We swung and missed on the Kings’ last Over (versus the Coyotes) but that 3-2 final is not deterring us from shying away from it again tonight.
The Kings fire a ton of rubber at the net and average 35.6 shots per game on the season. This offense is also very underrated at even strength and sits fifth in expected goals, which is a better mark than the Flames, Oilers and Lightning. They’ve also scored three or more goals in eight of their last nine games and face a penalty kill that is struggling. The Over is 6-1 in L.A.’s last seven games.
The Ducks have also been playing perfect Over hockey of late and are 9-5 to the Over across their last 14 and have hit it in five straight. They're allowing 4.80 goals across their last six matches and are scoring 3.60 goals. The PP is a Top-10 unit since January 1 while the PK has been a problem in the new year. Gibson and Stolarz are not to be trusted right now unless you’re hitting the Over.
The previous meeting saw over 70 shots on net and seven goals at even strength with a goalie matchup between Gibson and Jonathan Quick. We’re getting a great price on this Over 5.5 at -120 while most of Anaheim’s and L.A.’s games of late are either at 6 or a 5.5 with an Over of -125 or -130.
Both offenses are scoring while neither team is getting solid goaltending. We love this Over 5.5 and with both teams in the playoff hunt, each club should show up tonight.
Prediction: Over 5.5 (-120)
Best bet
Combined, both of these teams are 9-1 to the Over across their last five games and the books have not corrected this trend and pushed this total to 6. No team is allowing more goals this month than the Ducks and the Kings have been a very underrated offense all season.
The last meeting saw plenty of offense and we’re banking on that again tonight. We doubt this total hits 6, but it should be closer to -130 for the Over 5.5.
Pick: Over 5.5 (-120)
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