The Los Angeles Kings (17-9-3) are heading to Madison Square Garden tonight to face the New York Rangers (15-12-1) in what should be one of the best clashes of the night.
Even the bookmakers have this game as a fairly even matchup. They have the Kings as slight underdogs at +1.5 (-260) on the puck line, with an even money moneyline. The Rangers, on the other hand, sit at -1.5 (+205) and -120 to win outright.
These odds feel about right looking at how these two teams are coming into tonight.
The over/under for total goals is set at 5.5, slightly favoring the over at -114 which looks like it might just be a low scoring game.
The Kings are coming off a strong season, but their recent offensive inconsistencies and injuries to a few of their key players could play a role in how this game unfolds tonight.
On the other hand, the Rangers have also struggled for consistency as of late but we think they will look to capitalize on home ice, where they’ve gone 4-1 against the Kings over their last 5 meetings at MSG.
So, who wins out in this game? We’ve got a good idea.
Both teams bring some solid players into this matchup. With a game like the Kings vs. Rangers, there’s no shortage of star power on the ice.
For the Kings, Adrian Kempe leads the team with 14 goals and 14 assists at 28 points, while the star and veteran Anze Kopitar continues to shine with 8 goals and 24 assists.
The Rangers counter those powerhouses with Artemi Panarin, their top scorer with an eye-popping 15 goals and 20 assists, and hot shot defenseman Adam Fox contributing 24 assists.
When it comes to team stats, the Kings rank 20th in goals for at 87 on the season, while the Rangers are just slightly better at 17th with 89 goals.
The biggest difference, however, is that the Kings boast a stingy defense. They rank 2nd in goals against (74) compared to the Rangers’ 9th (83). That might not seem like much, but defense can make or break the games.
Special teams could be a massive contributor as well, as the Rangers hold a decisive edge in power-play efficiency, ranking 13th (22.7%), while the Kings languish at 28th (16.5%). Depending on how frequently they head to the box could change the trajectory of this game.
The Kings’ solid defense gives them a pretty hefty and legitimate chance to stifle the Ranger's strong attack.
Their penalty kill ranks 13th (80.6%), and goalie David Rittich (2.49 GAA, .890 SV%) who is going between the pipes tonight has been steady when called upon. He’s not the best, but he's pretty decent.
Offensively, they’ll rely on their top scorers that you’re probably familiar with — Kempe, Kopitar, and Alex Laferriere (12 goals, 10 assists) — to keep the puck in the zone and find the back of the net.
However, the Kings’ struggling power play and lack of offensive depth beyond their top line are the biggest causes for concern. These are easily their biggest weaknesses coming into tonight’s matchup and the Rangers will look to capitalize on them.
To win, they’ll need to make the most of early scoring opportunities and maintain their strong defensive discipline throughout all 3 periods, particularly against Panarin and Fox.
Despite a few recent struggles, the Rangers’ top-end talent, led by Panarin, Fox, and a surprising resurgent Igor Shesterkin (.911 SV%, 2.90 GAA), gives them the edge heading into tonight.
Their 86.2% penalty kill (2nd in NHL) could easily neutralize the Kings’ weak power play, while their ability to generate plenty of scoring chances — just look at their 13th-ranked assist total (157) — should create quite a few problems for the Kings’ defense.
Recent history also favors the Rangers. Of course, this is the first of 2 games against each other this season, their dominance over the Kings at MSG and solid home performances this season give them confidence heading into this game.
This matchup pits two defensively decent teams against each other. However, the Rangers’ edge in scoring depth and dominant special teams easily tilts the balance in their favor.
We’re looking for Shesterkin to outduel Rittich in the net, while Panarin and Fox find will inevitably ways to exploit the Kings’ defensive gaps.
BettorsInsider Best Bet: Rangers Moneyline (-120).
New York’s insanely superior power play and home-ice advantage make them the safer pick in what we think should be a close, low-scoring game.
The Under 5.5 (-106) on tonight’s game also looks appealing, given both teams' defensive tendencies. We generally don’t go after low totals like that, but this could be a gem.