Los Angeles Kings vs New Jersey Devils Prediction, 2/23/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Los Angeles Kings vs New Jersey Devils

Date: Thursday, February 23, 2023

Location: Prudential Center in Newark, NJ

TV: MSG+

Odds/Point Spread: Kings (+105) Devils (-125)

The Los Angeles Kings (32-19-7) are headed to Prudential Center on Thursday where they will take on the New Jersey Devils (37-15-5). The moneyline on this game has the Kings at +105 and the Devils are priced at -125. The over/under comes in at 6.

The Los Angeles Kings will look for better times on the ice after their 2-1 defeat to the Wild in their last outing. Los Angeles compiled 6 minutes in the box for this contest. The Kings had a below average offensive outing in the loss. They also had 1 power play try but didn't get a goal. In the game, they netted 1 of the 34 shots they put on goal.

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With regard to their goal scoring prowess, the Los Angeles Kings have notched 192 goals (9th in pro hockey) so far this season and have given up 194. For the year, they have scored 71 points and their points percentage sits at .612. Los Angeles has accounted for 196 power play chances and they have tallied 51 goals out of those advantages, giving them a percentage of 26.02%. While playing at even strength, the Kings have allowed the opponent to score 145 goals while scoring 141 themselves. Los Angeles has taken 1,883 shots and is the owner of a shot percentage of 10.2%. The Kings have had 1,660 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .883. Los Angeles Kings opponents have totaled 196 power play opportunities (8th in professional hockey) and have earned 49 goals in those attempts.

The man protecting the net in this game is Pheonix Copley. Copley has played in 55 contests over the course of his hockey career. He has amassed a mark of 33-13-4 and he has gotten the start in 50 games. The opposition has been able to score 145 goals versus Copley in his NHL career and his average for goals against per game is 2.85. Copley has seen 1,476 shot attempts taken against him and he has 1,331 total saves. His save percentage is at .902 for his 3,055 minutes on the ice. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Copley has tallied 28 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .560.

The last time they were on the ice, New Jersey played the Canadiens in a matchup where the Devils went home in defeat by a mark of 5-2. They had 3 power play attempts in this matchup and recorded 1 out of those tries. The Devils scored 2 goals of the 40 shots on goal they tried.

New Jersey has put up 1,954 shots (4th in the NHL) and has earned a shot percentage of 10.03%, while allowing their opponents 1,624 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 81.14% on their oppositions 175 power play opportunities, and their save percentage is 90.6%. They have earned 166 chances on the power play and they have earned a power play percentage of 21.08%. The Devils have earned 161 goals at even strength and 35 goals (19th in professional hockey) while having a power play advantage. They have granted a total of 152 goals to be scored by of a combination of 119 goals at even strength and 33 goals while they had less men on the ice. During this campaign, the New Jersey Devils have earned a total of 196 goals, 79 points, in addition to a points percentage of .693.

Across the rink you are expected to see Vitek Vanecek between the pipes. The opposition is averaging 2.58 goals per contest and he has yielded 279 goals altogether. Vanecek's rate of quality starts comes in at 55.0% and he has 60 quality starting assignments in his NHL career. He got the starting nod in 109 games and has accumulated 6,497 minutes. Vanecek has compiled a career mark of 65-28-13 and has participated in 116 contests. He is sitting with 2,815 saves out of the 3,094 shots attempted against him, which gives him a save percentage of .910.

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

Josh's Pick: Take New Jersey (-125)

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