Quiet night in the NHL, with only two games on the card.
I’m most intrigued with the Los Angeles Kings’ visit to Nashville Predators, as the game features two of the NHL’s highest-scoring active players with Nashville’s Steven Stamkos facing Los Angeles’ Anze Kopitar.
I’m going to lean on a player prop tonight, rather than trying to figure out which two teams will win, but the player may surprise you after breaking down these two scorers.
WHY STAMKOS: The former Tampa Bay star has suddenly struck like lightning for the Predators, with four points in the last three games. Stamkos had two assists in an overtime loss in Tampa against his former employer. Then he turned in a goal and an assist against Colorado on Saturday. Stamkos has 10 goals and 14 assists in 21 career games against the Kings, and could strike tonight in a high-scoring game.
WHY KOPITAR: The 37-year-old skates into Nashville on a two-game point streak, and with four points in his last four games. He has at least one point in seven of the team’s 12 games. After a goal and two assists in a home win over the Golden Knights, Kopitar had an assist in a shootout-loss to the Blackhawks on Saturday. That loss stung, and he’ll be looking to lend a spark to get the scoring going against a Nashville team he’s registered 42 points against, in 54 games.
All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
THE PICK – MARCHESSAULT POINT -125: I’m going to count on Jonathan Marchessault to register at least one point tonight, as he’s seen plenty of success against the Los Angeles Kings. In both the regular season and playoffs, Marchessault has at least one point in seven of his last nine games against the Kings. During his career, he’s registered at least one point in 23 of 38 games against Los Angeles, including 15 of the last 22. While Stamkos and/or Kopitar might get a goal, I’m banking on Marchessault to register at least one point.
(Season Record: 1-1-0, Net: -$10, based on $100 units)
