Canadiens vs. Kings Odds
| Canadiens Odds | -105 |
| Kings Odds | -120 |
| Over/Under | 5.5 |
| Time | 4 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
Neither the Los Angeles Kings nor the Montreal Canadiens are off to the start they were hoping for. The Kings sit dead last in the Pacific Division with a 1-5-1 record, while the Habs are in the basement of the Atlantic Division with two wins through their first eight games. That's good news for one of these teams as someone has to leave with the victory.
Goaltending Has Saved Canadiens
Both of Montreal's wins have come over its past three games, and the Habs owe a large part of their success to Jake Allen. Allen is stopping 93.9% of shots faced over the past three games, shutting out the San Jose Sharks in his most recent start. In doing so, Allen brought his goals saved above average up to 0.3 for the season and his high-danger save percentage at even strength above his career average. Allen will continue to shoulder the lion's share of goaltending duties and needs to replicate these performances for the Habs to be successful.
The Habs continue to support Allen with a structured system in their defensive zone. Montreal has limited its opponents to nine or fewer high-danger and 20 or fewer scoring chances at five-on-five in six of their eight games. They've also been more effective at creating scoring opportunities, out-chancing their opponents in four of their past six.
All told, the Habs have posted an expected goals-for percentage above 50.0% in five of their past six but only have two wins for their efforts. Strong relative metrics and a PDO that ranks in the bottom third of the league are good indicators that the Habs are progression candidates.
Kings Losing Streak Reaches Six
The Kings' lone win this season came in their opening game of the year. Since then, LA has dropped six straight, posting some disappointing metrics along the way.
Across all strengths, the Kings have posted an expected goals-for percentage below 50.0% in four of those six games. Los Angeles is hemorrhaging chances against, giving up 31 scoring opportunities and 11 or more quality chances in three of their past four. The Kings have been out-chanced in scoring opportunities and out-possessed in three straight games, resulting in a cumulative 44.3% expected goals-for percentage.
Worse, the Kings will be without one of their best players on Saturday, as Drew Doughty is expected to miss eight weeks with a knee injury. That shifts everyone up a peg on the defensive depth chart, meaning lesser-skilled players will be asked to make more considerable contributions.
Canadiens vs. Kings Pick
The Kings were suffering before they lost their most valuable d-man. L.A. is trending downwards, while the Habs' metrics are starting to bring them back towards average. This line should shift in favor of the Habs as we approach puck drop, and they are the right side to be on. We're betting Montreal prolongs the Kings' early-season misery.
Pick: Canadiens -105
