Montreal Canadiens vs Los Angeles Kings Prediction, 3/2/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Montreal Canadiens vs Los Angeles Kings

Date: Thursday, March 2, 2023

Location: Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA

TV: Bally Sports West

Odds/Point Spread: Canadiens (+165) Kings (-200)

The Los Angeles Kings (34-20-8) will compete against the Montreal Canadiens (26-30-4) at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday. The moneyline on this contest has the Canadiens at +165 and the Kings are priced at -200. The over/under is 7.

The Montreal Canadiens went home feeling good about their game by earning a 3-1 victory over the Sharks in their last outing. Montreal accrued 6 penalty minutes in this outing. Furthermore, they had 3 attempts on the power play but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. The Canadiens offense didn't overly impress in the victory. In the game, they tallied a score on 3 out of the 32 shots they put on net.

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Montreal Canadiens opponents have recorded 204 power play opportunities (8th in professional hockey) and have a total of 53 goals in those chances. The Canadiens have had 2,025 shots tried against them and have earned a save percentage of .894. Montreal has tried 1,677 shots and holds a shot percentage of 9.7%. At even strength, the Canadiens let the opposition score 162 goals while notching 132 on offense. Montreal steps onto the ice with 182 power play opportunities and they have scored 30 goals out of those chances, earning them a rate of 16.48%. For the year, they have recorded 56 points and their points percentage is sitting at .467. When it comes to their goal scoring prowess, the Montreal Canadiens have accumulated 162 goals (27th in hockey) on the season and have surrendered 215.

The man protecting the net in this game is Jake Allen. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Allen has 193 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .526. His save percentage currently is at .910 during his 21,798 mins on the ice. Allen has had 10,733 shots against him and has recorded 9,764 saves. Opponents have scored 969 goals versus Allen in his NHL career and his goals against average per game is 2.67. He has compiled a win-loss mark of 182-144-37 and he has started in 367 games. Allen has been involved in 387 contests over the course of his professional hockey career.

The last time they were on the ice, Los Angeles faced the Jets in an outing where the Kings got the tie by a final score of 5-5. They had 4 power play attempts in this one and notched 1 out of those attempts. The Kings netted 5 goals out of the 37 shots on goal they tried.

The Kings have tallied 152 goals at even strength and 53 goals (4th in pro hockey) while on the power play. Los Angeles has taken 1,998 shots (7th in hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 10.26%, while allowing the other team 1,762 shots. On the season, the Los Angeles Kings have accounted for 205 goals, 76 points, in addition to a points percentage of .613. They have allowed 210 goals to be scored by way of 159 goals at even strength and 51 goals while they were shorthanded. They have recorded 207 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play rate of 25.60%. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 75.71% on their opponents 210 power play chances, and their save percentage is currently 88.1%.

On the other side of the ice you are likely to see Pheonix Copley between the pipes. Teams are averaging 2.91 goals/game and he has given up 156 goals altogether. Copley's quality start rate comes in at 53.8% and he has 28 quality starting assignments in his pro career. He was named a starter in 52 contests and has played 3,219 mins. Copley has a career mark of 34-13-5 and has been in goal for 58 contests. He has racked up 1,397 stops out of the 1,553 shots taken, giving him a percentage of .900.

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

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Los Angeles (-200) and under 6.5 goals

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