Kings vs Blues NHL Spread/Handicapping
The Los Angeles Kings find themselves in an unfamiliar position – trailing in a series! That’s right – LA won the Cup last year while going 16-4 and not trailing at any point along the way. But there is a reason that the Blues are up 1-0 – they outhit, outshot and completely outhit the Kings on Tuesday night for their first win versus the Kings in nine games.
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#5 Los Angeles Kings (27-16-2-4) at #4 St. Louis Blues (30-17-1-1)
When: 9:30 PM ET, Thursday, May 2, 2013
Where: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Broadcast: CBC, CNBC, FS-MW
Blues lead series 1-0
Kings vs. Blues Betting Lines from betinline.com
Los Angeles Kings +1½ -300 +110 Ov 5 +124
St Louis Blues -1½ +250 -121 Un 5 -137
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Kings Look For Split in St. Louis Thursday Night
LA hopes to bounce back on Thursday night and to return home even in the quarter-final series.
The Los Angeles Kings were lucky to get to overtime on Tuesday night. Justin Williams scored LA’s only goal of the game with just 31.6 seconds left. Then the Kings were unable to take advantage of a four minute power play in overtime and surrendered the shorthanded goal that sealed their own fate.
The Kings looked as though they were not prepared for the ramped up intensity of the playoffs – something that will change in Game 2. This team isn’t used to getting pushed around and that is what happened in Game 1.
Jonathan Quick was predictably solid in Game 1 – 40 saves with one intensely critical puck-handling gaffe that cost them the game. There aren’t any worries defensively for the Kings but they know that 29 shots for and 0-for-4 on the power play won’t get it done on Thursday night either.
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the Blues beat the Kings in Game 1. After all they won 12 of its last 15 to earn the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and home-ice advantage. It was the way they won – dominating the Kings in absolutely every facet of the game that caught many by surprise. [ad-4437448]
The Blues threw 42 shots at Jonathan Quick, they outhit the Kings 41-38 and their special teams dominated scoring a power play goal and a shorthanded marker. The team likely won’t score a lot in this game but they likely won’t have to the rest of the way. Brian Elliott has a 1.28 GAA and .948 save percentage in his last 13 games and he allowed one goal or fewer in 11 of his last 14 starts.
Elliot looks a lot like his counterpart Jonathan Quick did at this time last year – he could be the difference the rest of the way!
Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• LA are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. Central.
• Under is 14-3-2 in STL last 19 home games.
• STL are 13-3 in their last 16 overall.
• Under is 17-6-3 in STL last 26 overall.
• LA are 8-1 in the last 9 meetings.
• Under is 9-4-2 in the last 15 meetings.
The Kings were caught off guard on Tuesday night. Coach Darryl Sutter called out a few of his younger players especially about how they responded to the intensity of Game 1. They should be better Thursday. But the question is whether or not they can solve Brian Elliot – nobody has the last month! I look at the Kings 8-12-4 regular season road record; I look at the emotion displayed in Game 1 and come up with my pick.
Pick: St. Louis Blues -121
