Do the Avs also dominate the Kings?
The best team this season now wants it all – and by “it all” they mean the Presidents’ Trophy for the No. 1 seed after the regular season. The chances are not bad, as the tired Kings are the next victim to come to Denver.
Why tired? Because the Kings only had to play in Chicago on Wednesday night and then had to travel up to Mile High. Not exactly the best conditions to be at the top of the league.
With the Avalanche also off since Sunday and thus extremely rested, we don’t necessarily expect a game of equals on Wednesday night. Rather, we predict another dismantling of the Kings, as has already happened to them twice this season against Colorado (1:4 and 0:3).
Thus, our prediction for Colorado against Los Angeles is a clear success for the home team, with only a question mark behind the amount of the victory. It should be at least a two-goal difference in the end – possibly even a shutout by the Avs again.
Colorado Avalanche – Statistics & current form
The Avalanche are still enthroned in 1st place in the entire NHL and if we look at their remaining schedule, they should stay there until the end. With LA, New Jersey or Seattle they still have some very doable opponents ahead of them.
Nevertheless, these games have to be played first and a too relaxed attitude can quickly lead to surprises in the NHL. The Avs can already tell you a thing or two about that, as evidenced by their 3-1 loss to Vancouver on 24 March.
Avs superior to Kings in all respects
It’s that negative experience a few weeks ago, however, that should help Colorado not lose focus another time. If everything goes according to plan, though, not much can go wrong against the Kings. They are simply too superior to them.
The Avalanche score many more goals per game (3.76 to 2.81), concede fewer (2.74 to 2.84), have the better power play (25.0% to 16.8%) and the better penalty killing (79.0% to 76.6%). Only in face-offs do the franchise trail the Kings (46.9% to 52.8%).
Another shutout by Kuemper?
It could even end up with the Kings failing to score again, as they did in the 0:3 loss a few weeks ago. Back then, Avs goalie Kuemper kept his box clean and since he is currently in terrific form (98.0% save percentage against the Oilers on Sunday), that could well happen.
Therefore, a bet on a shutout is also an option for the Avs vs. Kings, even if this is of course associated with some risk. Much safer are bets on a win for Colorado, which should be by at least two goals.
Key Players:
G: Darcy Kuemper
D: Devon Toews
D: Cale Makar
LW: Valeri Nichuskin
C: Nathan MacKinnon
RW: Mikko Rantanen
Los Angeles Kings – Statistics & current form
The Kings are screwing up their entire season right now. Defeat after defeat they are also losing places in the standings and with another defeat on Wednesday they could already slip out of the playoff places.
There are reasons for this, of course, and one of them is that one of their most important players Drew Doughty has been out injured for several weeks. Just yesterday it was announced that he won’t be back this season due to wrist surgery. A tough loss for LA.
LA still challenged in Chicago Tuesday night
Another point that doesn’t sit well with them for their clash with Colorado is their game Tuesday in Chicago. Now that’s not necessarily the shortest trip to Denver and games against the Blackhawks are also always intense.
That gives the Kings two fewer days of regeneration than Avalanche, which on top of Doughty’s injury and their statistical disadvantages should end up being too much to overcome in Colorado.
Betting odds against LA very low
However, the bookmakers of course also see these many disadvantages for the Kings and set the odds on Colorado in Avs vs. Kings accordingly low. So we have to give the Avalanche a handicap of up to -2 here to still get an acceptable value. But we can do that with a clear conscience in this matchup.
Key Players:
G: Jonathan Quick
D: Mikey Anderson
D: Drew Doughty
LW: Alex Iafallo
C: Anze Kopitar
RW: Adrian Kempe
Colorado Avalanche – Los Angeles Kings Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
There’s another reason to favour the Avs in the upcoming duel. The last eight duels have all gone to Colorado, the last four by at least a three-goal difference. That is pure superiority.
The goal differential in these games is 30:7, which means the Kings have not even been able to score a single goal on average. Three times they were held to 0 goals, which makes a shutout for Wednesday an interesting betting option.
Nevertheless, we see a bet on Avs -1.5 for Colorado vs. LA as more promising. 4:1 or 5:1 are results we could imagine very well. It also always depends on how they take their chances, which they did less well against Edmonton (2:1), for example.
Colorado Avalanche – Los Angeles Kings Tip
Reasons upon reasons to be pro Colorado in this matchup. More rest time, better stats, less injury concerns and then home field advantage in Denver, where they’ve only lost a total of seven games.
It could even end up being a very clear affair. If the Avs make consistent use of their chances, a blowout win is also possible here. In any case, the odds on Colorado -1.5 are still very promising for the Avs against the Kings.
