James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA – Photo by Icon Sport
Chicago Blackhawks vs Los Angeles Kings: Can Chicago win two in a row?
The Los Angeles Kings are hosting the Chicago Blackhawks at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.
The Blackhawks have a season to forget
The Chicago Blackhawks are 15th in the Western Conference with a 19-44-5 record and are already eliminated from the playoff race. They have won three of the last four games, which is the first such case this season. The Blackhawks are coming off a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks, the only team with a worse record in the league. Chicago is 29th in the league, allowing 3.54 goals per game, and is the worst offensive team in the league, scoring only 2.19 goals per game. Connor Bedard leads the team with 53 points so far this season.
The Kings are holding on in the playoff zone
The Los Angeles Kings are seventh in the Western Conference with a 34-22-11 record. They have lost three of the last five games and are coming off a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. The Kings are third in the league, allowing only 2.58 goals per game, and are ranked 19th, scoring 3.01 goals per game. Kevin Fiala leads the Kings with 58 points, three more than Anze Kopitar.
Betting Trends
Los Angeles has won 5 of the last 6 games against Chicago. The Kings are 2-9 SU in the last 11 games against teams from the Central Division. The Blackhawks are 5-15 SU in the last 20 games overall, 1-19 SU in the last 20 road games and 1-5 SU in the last 6 games played in Los Angeles.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Los Angeles Kings had a great start to the season, but struggles in the last couple of months have put them in a situation to fight for a playoff spot in the last 15 games of the season. The Kings have a good schedule, which is a reason to be optimistic, but the most important game is the next one against the Blackhawks. Chicago has had a terrible season, and winning three of the last four games means nothing. They have lost 19 of the last 20 road games, and they will stand no chance against the Kings, who will win this over by covering the -1.5 puck line.
