2011 NHL Hockey Free Predictions: Oilers vs Kings
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Edmonton Oilers (14-21-7) at Los Angeles Kings (23-19-1)
Date/Time: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 15, 2011
Venue: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Broadcast: CBC (HD), FS-W (HD)
Oilers vs. Kings Betting Lines from Bodog.com
Spread: Oilers +1.5 (-170): Kings -1.5 (+150)
Moneyline: Edmonton +175: Los Angeles -210
Over/Under: 5.5 goals
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In a battle of teams that have struggled in the last two weeks, the Edmonton Oilers will try to build off a win in San Jose on Thursday night while the Los Angeles Kings will look to stay with the other four contenders in the Pacific Division. Edmonton has been bad, going 2-6-2 in their last 10 games but the Kings have been just as bad going 3-7-0 in their last 10.
The Oilers 23rd ranked offense (2.5 goals per game) showed some signs of life against San Jose in a 5-2 win. Ales Hemsky is starting to heat up and Taylor Hall is converting on more chances as the season wears on. The Oilers are still minus some key offensive weapons and will likely not score five goals every night. Defense has to step up at some point!
The Oilers have been brutal all season long in their own end of the rink. They are 30th in the NHL and allow 3.3 goals per game. Tightening up defensively is essential for this team. Devan Dubnyk has earned another start over a struggling Nikolai Khabubulin. Dubnyk is 4-3-5 with a 2.72 goals against average in the season but is 2-0-0 in his last two starts with a 1.51 goals against average.
The Los Angeles Kings have been awful lately – away from home and at Staples Center. They have lost two straight games overall and have lost six of their last seven at home.
The Kings have the 11th ranked offense in the NHL, scoring an average of 2.9 goals per game. Michael Handzus has four points in three games, Ryan Smyth has six points in five games and Jaret Stoll has four points in four. The offense has been OK – the defense has been letting the Kings down of late.
Los Angeles has the 8th best defense in the NHL – 2.6 goals per game. However, Jonathan Quick is in a terrible slump. He is 1-5-0 in his last six starts with an inflated 3.87 goals against average. Despite a 4-0-2 record against the Oilers in his last six, the Kings may opt to start Jonathan Bernier who has struggled himself – 0-2-0 record in his last two starts with a 7.10 goals against average!
Betting Prediction: The Edmonton Oilers are 7-10-4 on the road this season but are just 15-46 in their last 61 away from home. However, the Oilers are 5-1 in their last six visits to LA. The Kings are 14-8-1 at home this season but have lost six of their last seven games on home ice. The Kings are 1-7 in their last eight games overall and are 5-0-4 in the last nine games against Edmonton. The road team is 8-1 in the last nine games in the series.
He Kings are in a free fall and with no competent goaltending to pull them out of their doldrums; I like the Oilers on the road. At least Edmonton has a decent backstop! Los Angeles will be fine but the bleeding will have to stop another day!
Pick: Edmonton Oilers +175
