Toronto Maple Leafs vs Los Angeles Kings Prediction, 1/2/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Los Angeles Kings

Date: Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Location: Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA

TV: ESPN+/Hulu

Odds/Point Spread: Maple Leafs (+118) Kings (-143)

Crypto.com Arena is the site where the Los Angeles Kings (20-8-5) will go up against the Toronto Maple Leafs (17-10-7) on Tuesday. The odds on this game have Toronto at +118 and Los Angeles is coming in at -143. The betting total comes in at 7.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to clean up some issues after taking a 3-2 loss against the Hurricanes in their previous game. The Maple Leafs could have played much better offensively in the defeat. In the outing, they were able to notch a goal on 2 of the 27 shots they tried. They also had 3 power play opportunities but weren't able to score. Toronto compiled 10 penalty minutes for this matchup.

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When at even strength, the Maple Leafs have surrendered 94 goals while scoring 94 when they are on offense. Toronto Maple Leafs opponents have 103 power play tries (31st in professional hockey) and have notched 23 goals in those attempts. Pertaining to their scoring capabilities, the Toronto Maple Leafs have accumulated 120 goals (11th in the NHL) on the season and have allowed 117. Toronto has tried 1,106 shots and has a shot percentage of 10.9%. For the season, they have 41 points and their points % is .603. The Maple Leafs thus far have had 1,086 shots taken against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .892. Toronto is sitting with 101 power play chances and they have scored 26 goals out of those tries, earning them a rate of 25.74%.

The player in the crease for this game is Ilya Samsonov. Over the course of his pro career, Samsonov has 65 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .485. His save percentage sits at .903 in his 8,132 minutes in the crease. Samsonov has had 3,894 shot attempts against him and has accrued 3,518 saves. Opponents have been able to score 376 goals versus Samsonov in his pro career and his goals against average per game is 2.77. He has accumulated an overall record of 84-34-19 and he started in 134 games. Samsonov has been in net for 146 contests throughout his pro hockey career.

Their last time out, Los Angeles played the Oilers in a game where the Kings got the tie by a mark of 2-2. The Kings had 2 goals out of the 28 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 4 power play attempts in this one and earned 1 out of those chances.

The Kings have earned 93 goals at even strength and 22 goals (20th in hockey) while having more men on the ice. Los Angeles has attempted 1,123 shots (11th in pro hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 10.24%, while allowing the opposition 881 shots. For the year, the Los Angeles Kings have a total of 115 goals, 45 points, in addition to a points percentage of .682. They have allowed 77 goals to be scored by way of 63 goals at even strength and 14 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have earned 114 power play chances and they have a power play rate of 19.30%. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 86.54% on their oppositions 104 power play tries, and their save percentage currently sits at 91.3%.

For the opposition you will find Cam Talbot in net. Teams are averaging 2.62 goals per contest and he has allowed 1,140 goals in total. Talbot's rate of quality starts comes out to 55.0% and he has made 240 quality starting assignments in his pro career. He has been a starter 436 games and his ice time sits at 26,097 minutes. Talbot is the owner of a lifetime mark of 232-163-39 and has been in goal for 456 contests. He has compiled 12,128 stops out of 13,268 shots taken against him, giving him a save % of .914.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Los Angeles (-143)

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