NHL Thursday Pick – Kings vs Canucks
NFL betting fans will spend as much time at their sportsbook as they will at the dinner table on Thanksgiving Thursday but they’re not alone. Hockey fans have a couple of games to bet on that night, the most intriguing of which is the Kings-Canucks matchup. Let’s break it down.
Los Angeles Kings @ Vancouver Canucks
Thursday, November 26, 10:00 p.m. ET
How about those Los Angeles Kings? They were a popular preseason pick to become the breakout team of 2009-10 and they haven’t disappointed sportsbook bettors. If you did your homework, you knew a similar breakout to the Penguins and Blackhawks’ recent resurgences was in the cards for L.A. The reason: the Kings stockpiled picks and prospects and cultivated so much young talent that it was only a matter of time before the losses turned to wins.
The Kings are back. Anze Kopitar has blossomed in the NHL’s scoring leader; Drew Doughty is becoming a workhorse on the blueline with superstar status on the horizon. The Kings have physicality and offensive talent up front from Justin Williams and Dustin Brown. Hard to believe future stars like center Brayden Schenn, goalie Jonathan Bernier and defender Thomas Hickey aren’t even with the big club yet.
For the Kings’ Thursday night matchup at Vancouver, however, the good news ends there. The Kings recently lost Ryan Smyth to injury and may be without Jarret Stoll tomorrow night too. Each of those guys brings veteran leadership and depth – especially Smyth. This month, L.A. has come back to Earth slightly. It still pummels weak teams but Chicago, Calgary and Philadelphia all had their way with the Kings this month. L.A. also plays Wednesday night in Edmonton too and thus won’t have a ton of gas in the tank for Vancouver.
The Canucks, on the other hand, haven’t played yet this week. That rest is great news for Daniel Sedin, who is just one game into his return from a broken foot. The extra days off should have him ready to click with brother Henrik again (and probably with Alex Burrows). Reuniting Daniel and Henrik means the Canucks can now ice a second effective scoring line – let’s say a Samuelsson/Kesler/Raymond unit for illustration’s sake. That top six may skate circles around a tired Kings defense corps.
The Canucks haven’t set the world on fire this season but they’re healthy again and they’re 8-3 at GM Place this season. Their hockey odds are solid for Thursday.
Sports betting pick: Canucks
