Boston Bruins vs Los Angeles Kings Prediction, 1/5/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Boston Bruins vs Los Angeles Kings

Date: Thursday, January 5, 2023

Location: Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA

TV: Bally Sports West

Odds/Point Spread: Bruins (-144) Kings (+120)

The Boston Bruins (29-4-4) are on their way to Crypto.com Arena on Thursday where they will attempt to defeat the Los Angeles Kings (22-13-6). The line on this matchup has the Bruins at -144 while the Kings are coming in at +120. The total is 6.

The Boston Bruins went home feeling good about their game by earning a 2-1 victory against the Penguins in the last game they played. Boston recorded 6 mins in the box in this matchup. They also had 3 attempts on the power play but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. The Bruins didn't have a great showing offensively in the victory. In the outing, they scored on 2 of the 29 shots they launched.

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Boston Bruins opponents have amassed 134 power play tries (8th in the NHL) and have come away with 20 goals in those chances. The Bruins so far have had 1,086 shots attempted against them and have a save percentage of .926. Boston has tried 1,288 shots and has a shooting percentage of 10.7%. When playing at even strength, the Bruins have allowed the opponent to score 60 goals while getting 101 on offense. Boston is sitting with 137 power play chances and they have scored 37 goals during those advantages, garnering them a percentage of 27.01%. For the current campaign, they have accumulated 62 points and their points percentage sits at .838. In terms of scoring goals, the Boston Bruins have notched 138 goals (3rd in pro hockey) so far this year and have given up 80.

Patrolling the crease for the game will be Linus Ullmark. Opponents have been able to score 449 goals versus Ullmark in his pro career and his goals against average is 2.58. Ullmark has been in goal for 183 games during his NHL career. His save percentage currently sits at .917 during his 10,457 mins on the ice. He has compiled a mark of 97-58-16 and he was named the starter in 175 games. During his career on the ice, Ullmark has accumulated 104 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .594. Ullmark has had 5,398 shots against him and has accrued 4,949 total saves.

Their last time out, Los Angeles played the Stars in a game where the Kings got the win by a mark of 3-2. The Kings had 3 goals out of the 35 shots on goal they took. They had 3 attempts on the power play in this game and notched 1 out of those tries.

Los Angeles has attempted 1,333 shots (3rd in hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 9.83%, while allowing their opponents 1,191 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 72.22% on their opponents 144 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage comes in at 88.3%. They have a tally of 145 chances on the power play and they have earned a power play rate of 23.45%. The Kings have earned 97 goals at even strength and 34 goals (7th in professional hockey) while having a power play advantage. They have permitted 139 goals to be scored by way of 99 goals at even strength and 40 goals while they were shorthanded. On the season, the Los Angeles Kings have tallied 131 goals, 50 points, as well as a points percentage of .610.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Jonathan Quick in net. His opponents are averaging 2.45 goals/game and he has yielded 1,748 goals altogether. Quick's rate of quality starts comes in at 53.6% and he has accumulated 388 quality starting assignments in his NHL career. He has made the start in 724 games and his ice time sits at 42,842 minutes. Quick has accumulated a career mark of 367-271-82 and has played in 735 contests. He is sitting with 18,061 stops out of 19,809 shots taken against him, giving him a rate of .912.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony's Pick: Take Boston (-144)

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