NHL Betting Preview: Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks

Added on Apr 04, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

NHL

The second of two NHL games on Monday is also a contest with major playoff implications for one of the teams involved as the Los Angeles Kings head north to take on the San Jose Sharks. The Kings are currently in 4th place in the Western Conference trailing the Sharks–both in conference and the Pacific Division–by 5 points. The Sharks are currently in third place and have clinched a playoff spot even if they *don’t* win the Pacific Division while the Kings have not. Los Angeles can’t afford to let up at this stage, however, since they lead 9th place Calgary by only 5 points. It’s an unlikely ‘worst case scenario’ but there’s a chance that Los Angeles could miss the postseason entirely.

Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks
April 4, 2011 7:05 PM Pacific

Obviously this is a big game for both teams, but due to the playoff scenario we outlined above it’s a much bigger deal for the visiting Los Angeles Kings. A win here would not only all but clinch a playoff spot but narrow the Sharks’ lead in the Pacific Division to only 3 points with three games remaining for both teams. San Jose has won 4 of the 7 meetings this season but the Kings have won the last two. Both teams are in good form at the moment–Sharks have won 7 of 8 but the Kings have won 9 of 12. San Jose is a very good defensive team–they rank #9 in scoring defense allowing only 2.51 goals per game–but the Kings are better. Los Angeles is the #4 scoring defense in the NHL giving up 2.35 goals per game. The Sharks do have the much better offense–San Jose is the #6 scoring offense in the NHL with a 2.99 goals per game average. Kings are way down the table at #22 (2.62 goals per game).

Typically, teams in ‘must win’ situations are teams we’d rather play against but Los Angeles really doesn’t qualify–they’re not ‘life or death’ in this game though their schedule the rest of the way doesn’t do them any favors with a game against Anaheim and a home and home series against the Anaheim Ducks. They’ve been playing very good hockey of late and are also a sizable underdog here. The Kings win with defense and 4 of the 7 meetings this year have gone Under. Los Angeles has gone Under in 4 straight games and 7 of their last 8. We’ll take the nice price with the road team in a game that should stay beneath the total.

Bet Los Angeles Kings +150 over San Jose Sharks
Bet Los Angeles/San Jose Under 5 +110