The Los Angeles Kings are riding a four-game winning streak with the trade deadline fast approaching with the playoffs on the horizon. The Minnesota Wild are riding a two-game winning streak and are mired in a battle for the playoffs in the Central Division and the Western Conference wild-card playoff chase.
We’ll review the trends, stats, and NHL odds before making our Kings vs Wild picks.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Minnesota Wild Odds
Before we break down this matchup and make our Kings vs Wild picks, we need to review the odds.
Any optimistic Los Angeles Kings predictions will have a little more value on Tuesday night. The Kings are the moneyline underdog, with odds listed between +105 and +112. The Minnesota Wild are listed between -125 and -132 as the home favorite.
Los Angeles has a 32-25 straight-up record this season, while Minnesota is 30-26 straight-up.
Most online sportsbooks have the total goals line listed at 6.0 for our NHL picks today. You can find an outlying sportsbook or two with the game listed at the NHL standard of 6.5 total goals.
With the total goals line at 6.0, the over is listed between -105 and -112, while the under is listed between -108 and -115. The Kings have a 31-23-3 over/under record, while the Wild have a 23-31-2 over/under record.
The Kings are listed at +1.5 on the puck line spread, with odds between -225 and -250. The Wild is listed at -1.5 with odds between +180 and +192. Minnesota has a 22-33 ats record, while Los Angeles is 27-30 ats.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Minnesota Wild Information
Los Angeles Kings vs Minnesota Wild
Location of the Game: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN.
Date and Time: Tuesday, February 21, 2023, 8:00 PM ET.
How to Watch: NHLPP | ESPN+
Los Angeles Kings vs. Minnesota Wild Analysis
This Kings vs Wild matchup on the NHL schedule today is the third and final meeting this season. The Los Angeles Kings have won both previous NHL matchups, winning 7-6 on October 15th and 1-0 on November 8th.
Los Angeles Kings Performance Recap and Analysis
The Los Angeles Kings come into Tuesday night’s game with a 32-18-7 record, ranked second in the Pacific Divison. The Kings are riding a four-game winning streak and have a 7-3 record in the last ten games.
Los Angeles is ranked 11th in scoring, averaging 3.35 goals per game, while having the second-best powerplay in the NHL, converting at 26.1%.
Defense is an entirely different story for Los Angeles; the Kings are ranked 22nd and giving up 3.37 goals per game, while the penalty kill is ranked 26th in the NHL, operating at 74.6%.
Former Minnesota Wild star Kevin Fiala leads the Kings in scoring with 61 points (21 goals, 40 assists). Adrian Kempe leads the Kings with 28 goals.
Kempe has eight goals in the last five games, while Anze Kopitar has ten points in the previous five games.
We expect Pheonix Copley to get the start for Los Angeles on Tuesday night. Copley has a 17-3-1 record, a 2.70 GAA, and a .904 SV%.
Los Angeles Kings Key Injuries
The Kings have right-winger Carl Grundstrom listed on the injury report, whos expected back late in February.
Los Angeles Kings Betting Trends to Know
The Kings are 1-4 in the last five meetings in Minnesota. The over is 5-0 in Los Angeles’ last five road games. Los Angeles has an 8-2 over/record in the last ten games.
Minnesota Wild Performance Recap and Analysis
The Minnesota Wild game schedule will be in focus for fans with the Wild enmeshed in the Central Division and Western Conference. The Wild enter Tuesday fourth in the Central Division NHL standings, having won the last two games, three of the last five, and have a 5-5 record in the previous ten.
Minnesota is ranked 25th in scoring, averaging 2.88 goals per game, while having the seventh-ranked powerplay, converting at 24.0%.
Defensively, the Wild are ranked 11th in NHL stats, giving up 2.82 goals per game while having the eighth overall penalty-killing unit, operating at 81.7%.
Kirill Kaprizov leads the Wild in NHL player stats with 66 points (33 goals, 33 assists). Mats Zuccarello leads the Wild in assists with 36 while scoring six points in the last five games.
We expect Marc-Andre Fleury to get the start for the Wild against the Kings on Tuesday night. Fleury has a 16-13-3 record, a 2.98 GAA, and a .901 SV%.
Minnesota Wild Key Injuries
The Wild have left winger Marcus Foligno listed on the injured reserve NHL injury report.
Minnesota Wild Betting Trends to Know
The Wild have a 2-8 over/under record in the last ten games. The under is 13-2-1 in Minnesota’s last 16 home games.
Here are a few more general trends to consider before making our Kings vs wild picks that favor Minnesota: the favorite is 6-2 in the last eight games, while the home team is 7-3 in the last ten games.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Minnesota Wild Betting Picks
Now that we have reviewed the trends, stats, and odds, we need to make our NHL picks.
Moneyline: Our first pick is to take the Los Angeles Kings as the moneyline underdog. Both NHL teams are fairly evenly matched and riding winning streaks, but we think the Kings are the slightly better team and will sweep the season series tonight.
Spread: Since we’re taking the Kings to win as the moneyline underdog, we’re taking the Kings to cover the +1.5 goal spread. Los Angeles will have to cover the spread to win, and we might parlay the Kings’ moneyline and spread picks together.
Over/Under Total: The total goals line is the most difficult to pick in the matchup, with both teams having different over/under trends and records this season. However, we will side with Minnesota’s trends and take the under. Minnesota’s defense and lower-scoring squad will help this game hit the under.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Minnesota Wild Score Predictions
The final Kings vs Wild picks we need to make is a final score prediction. Considering we’re taking the under, we think the final score will be Los Angeles 3 – Minnesota 1.
NHL Picks: Los Angeles Kings ML, Los Angeles +1.5, Under.
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