Columbus Blue Jackets vs Los Angeles Kings Prediction, 2/20/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Los Angeles Kings

Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Location: Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA

TV: Bally Sports West

The Columbus Blue Jackets (17-26-10) are on their way to Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday where they will attempt to beat the Los Angeles Kings (27-16-10).

The Columbus Blue Jackets were on the right side of the scoreboard with a 4-3 victory against the Sharks in their previous game. Columbus garnered 8 penalty minutes in this game. The Blue Jackets had a impressive offensive output in the win. Additionally, they had 3 chances with the advantage but didn't net one. In the matchup, they tallied a score on 4 of the 41 shots they put on net.

In the matter of their scoring capabilities, the Columbus Blue Jackets have tallied 155 goals (25th in hockey) for the year and have allowed 196. For the current campaign, they have racked up 44 points and their points percentage is sitting at .415. Columbus has 153 power play opportunities and they have scored 22 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a percentage of 14.38%. While playing at even strength, the Blue Jackets have surrendered 159 goals while getting 133 on the offensive side of the ice. Columbus has taken 1,591 shots and has a shooting percentage of 9.7%. The Blue Jackets thus far have had 1,765 shots attempted against them and hold a save percentage of .889. Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have earned 155 power play opportunities (24th in pro hockey) and have a total of 37 goals in those attempts.

The man in net for this game is Elvis Merzlikins. Merzlikins has participated in 180 contests during his hockey career. He has amassed a win-loss mark of 65-73-29 and he started in 167 games. The opposition has notched 519 goals against Merzlikins in his pro hockey career and his goals against average is 3.15. Merzlikins has had 5,500 shot attempts taken against him and he has 4,981 total saves. He has a save percentage of .906 for his 9,894 mins played. Over the course of his pro career, Merzlikins has earned 79 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .473.

The last time they were on the ice, Los Angeles went up against the Penguins in a matchup where the Kings took home the victory by a final score of 2-1. They had 3 power play chances in this outing but weren't able to score a goal. The Kings recorded 2 goals of the 33 shots on goal they tried.

Los Angeles has attempted 1,773 shots (4th in hockey) and has a shooting percentage of 9.25%, while allowing the opposition 1,495 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 86.47% on the other teams 170 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage currently sits at 90.6%. They have earned 170 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play rate of 21.18%. The Kings have accumulated 128 goals at even strength and 36 goals (16th in pro hockey) while having more men on the ice. They have allowed 140 goals to be scored by way of 117 goals at even strength and 23 goals while they had less men on the ice. For the year, the Los Angeles Kings are sitting with 164 goals, 64 points, and a points percentage of .604.

Across the rink you are going to see David Rittich defending the goal. He is sitting with 4,536 stops out of the 5,009 shots taken against him, which gives him a save percentage of .906. Rittich is the owner of a career record of 87-53-24 and has been in net for 187 games. He has been a starter 164 games and has been on the ice for 10,061 mins. Rittich's quality start rate is 53.0% and he has 87 quality starting assignments in his pro career. Teams are averaging 2.82 goals/game and he has conceded 473 goals overall.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Los Angeles

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