Colorado Avalanche vs Los Angeles Kings Betting Picks

Los Angeles went 7-4 down the stretch, fighting hard to make the playoffs for the fifth straight season. They played well in Game 1 as a big underdog, losing 2-1 despite winning the battle in hits (49-35) and faceoffs (35-28). The Kings have been a strong road team (20-10-11), anchored by a defense that is seventh in goals allowed (2.90 per game) and 12th in save percentage (.899). The February trade for Artemi Panarin has been a big plus for the offense and on the power play. Colorado's power play ranks 27th, going 0-for-4 in Game 1. It's a monumental task taking one from the Avs, but this price underestimates the Kings' potential. Play Los Angeles. 

Los Angeles went 7-4 down the stretch, fighting hard to make the playoffs for the fifth straight season. The Kings have been a strong road team (20-10-11), anchored by a defense that is seventh in goals allowed (2.90 per game) and 12th in save percentage (.899). The February trade for Artemi Panarin has been a big plus for the offense and on the power play. The Kings are on an 11-8 run UNDER the total, including 6-4 UNDER on the road. Colorado's defense is No. 1 in goals allowed (2.40 per game) and in save percentage, while the power play ranks 27th, on a 16-4-2 run UNDER the total. The visitors have more than enough to keep this close and pull a Game 1 upset in a defensive battle. Play Los Angeles + UNDER the total. 

The beleaguered Kings could get a boost as this is D.J. Smith's first game coaching them following the firing of Jim Hiller. Unfortunately for the Kings and Smith, their opponent is Colorado. The Avalanche have the most points in the NHL with 87. The Avalanche are first in scoring in the league, averaging 3.8 goals a game. They have scored nine goals in two games against the Kings this season, winning 5-2 at home on Dec. 29 and 4-1 on the road back on opening night. Colorado also gives up the fewest goals per game. LA looked dreadful in its first two games after the Olympic break, losing 6-4 at home to the Golden Knights, when Las Vegas didn't have any of its five Olympic players. The Kings followed that up with a brutal 8-1 home loss to the Oilers before shutting out the Flames, 2-0, this past Saturday to halt a five-game losing streak. That victory against the lowly Flames wasn't enough to save Hiller. Subtract that Flames game, and the Kings are giving up an average of 5.5 goals a game in their last four games. Take the Avalanche.