Sharks vs Kings NHL Spread/Handicapping
The San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings kick off their Western Conference Semi-Final series on Tuesday night in LA where the Kings won both of their regular season meetings with their Northern State rivals.
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San Jose Sharks (29-26-3-4) at Los Angeles Kings (31-17-2-4)
When: 10:00 PM ET, Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Broadcast: NBCSN, TSN
Sharks vs. Kings Betting Lines from betonline.com
San Jose Sharks +1½ -240 +138 Ov 5 +132 Ov 2½ +145 Un 2½ -175
Los Angeles Kings -1½ +200 -152 Un 5 -145 Ov 2½ -110 Un 2½ -120
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Battle of California in Game 1 of Western Conference Semi-Final
Each team arrived in the second round of the playoffs in different ways – the Sharks dispatched the Canucks in relatively easy fashion while the Kings had a fight on their hands against a very tough St. Louis Blues squad. Both teams enter Game 1 on four game win streaks having split four regular-season meetings, with the home team winning each time.
Three of the four games were one-goal affairs, including one that went to a shootout.
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The San Jose Sharks may have slipped under the radar a bit heading into the playoff but they sure did make some noise in the first round – sweeping the third seed Vancouver Canucks with their depth, their goaltending and a physicality that will serve them well against Los Angeles.
The Sharks enter Game 1 well rested but eager to get back on the ice. Offensively, this team underachieved a tad during the regular season but they came alive in the four games of their first round series.
Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture each registered eight points in the four games, Joe Thornton had six points, and Patrick Marleau broke a slump and had four goals and an assist while another veteran Dan Boyle averaged a point per game versus the Canucks. The power play was lethal for San Jose against Vancouver – 7-for-24 in the series.
This team was scorching hot before their week off – hopes are that rest didn`t create rust!
Goaltender Antti Niemi was nominated for the Vezina trophy last week and for good reason. He had a league-best 24 victories with a career-low 2.16 goals-against average during the regular season and won all four games versus the Canucks in the postseason with a 1.86 GAA and .937 save percentage.
Jonathan Quick may get all the headlines between the two keepers in the series but Niemi has been one of the three best goalies in the league this season and will more-than-adequately serve the Sharks.
The Los Angeles Kings looked to be in trouble after losing the first two games against St. Louis but they rattled off four straight wins to advance to the second round. Like the Sharks it was a total team effort that allowed them to succeed. Now the Kings get to actually start a series in their own building for the first time since 1992. [ad-4437448]
LA has won 10 straight games at Staples Center dating back to the regular season – advantage Kings!
Offensively the Kings were not great in the six games against St. Louis – just 12 goals in the six games. Mike Richards led the way with five assists, Anze Kopitar had a goal and three assists to break a slump that plagued him down the stretch and Jeff Carter had three of LA`s 12 goals in the series.
As we saw last year – the Kings don`t need a whole lot of offense to succeed in the playoffs!
Jonathan Quick was predictably terrific against St. Louis – allowing just 10 goals on 177 shots. a .944 save percentage and a 1.58 GAA over the six games.
The Kings have a defense-first philosophy and they are executing very well again in the postseason.
Betting Prediction:
A few trends to consider:
• Under is 5-0-3 in SJ last 8 road games.
• SJ are 6-2 in their last 8 Tue. games.
• SJ are 11-4 in their last 15 games following a win.
• Under is 6-1-2 in LA last 9 overall.
• Under is 6-1-2 in LA last 9 vs. Western Conference.
• Under is 8-2-4 in LA last 14 home games.
The Kings have been absolute money on home ice the last month – 10-0 in their last 10 games at Staples Center and they did win both games at home against San Jose during the regular season. But this is the playoffs and the Sharks are a totally different team. San Jose`s offense has woken up, the defense and goaltending has remained solid and their power play looks like the most dangerous unit in the game.
A couple of Kings penalties will be the difference Tuesday night.
Pick: San Jose Sharks +138
