NHL Betting - Los Angeles Kings at Columbus Blue Jackets
by Dave D
Game Time:
Saturday, October 17th – 7PM ET Nationwide Arena, Columbus
The Blue Jackets are off to their best start in franchise history. With their 2-1 victory over Calgary on Tuesday, the Jackets are 4-1-0 to start the season. It’s a great sign for the team that had worried if they could continue the momentum from last season’s surprise playoff run. But this Jackets team has proved so far this season that they are for real. Rick Nash is on a four-game multi-point streak, and Steve Mason on Tuesday looked every bit like the goalie that won the Calder trophy last season.
The Kings are no slouches themselves. After years of hopeful off-seasons followed by disappointing regular seasons, the Los Angeles has broken out of the gate to become one of the NHL’s early surprise teams. They showed real character in a 4-2 loss against the Rangers, who are arguably the NHL’s best team. Their loss against Detroit on Thursday notwithstanding, the Kings look better than their 4-3-0 record would indicate.
What The Kings Have To Do To Win:
L.A. needs to improve their penalty kill. They are 10-for-28 in penalty kill efficiency, a paltry 64.3%. Only the Maple Leafs have a worse penalty kill. Goaltender Jon Quick is doing everything he can, but the Kings are taking too many penalties and just aren’t bailing their goalie out enough.
The Kings have to keep their start in perspective. This is the best the team has started since expectations about L.A. began a few years ago. They cannot get caught up in the moment and begin to think they’re ready for a Stanley Cup run, because they’re not. Once the Kings start buying into their own hype they will start to falter and lose any momentum they gained from their surprising start.
What The Blue Jackets Have To Do To Win:
Right now the Jackets are doing well because their best players are playing the part. Rick Nash leads the team with nine points and Steve Mason is rocking a 3-1 record with a 2.71 GAA and .916 save percentage. The Jackets are built around these two players, and as long as they produce the team will win.
Columbus is also sporting the NHL’s best penalty kill unit. They’ve allowed only a single goal in 19 instances while down a man, as well as having a short-handed goal to their credit. That sort of success comes with a team that trusts each other to be in the right position and trusts their goalie to make the big save when necessary. Knowing that there PK is successful, the Jackets can execute a more aggressive offensive style and not worry too much should a penalty be called on them.
Outlook & Pick
The Columbus Blue Jackets are finally a real threat in the NHL. It looks like the Kings are as well. The two teams are very evenly matched. Los Angeles may have more offensive firepower, but no one on Los Angeles can match the explosiveness of Rick Nash. Both teams are riding hot goaltenders who both want to prove themselves as legit number one starters in the NHL. The game will come down to special teams. There is a nice little matchup in LA’s sixth ranked power-play against Columbus’ first ranked penalty-kill. But when you flip the tables around, the Kings will be throwing out the leagues 2nd worst PK unit against a potent Blue Jackets power-play. That will be the difference in the end.
Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets
