Kings vs. Golden Knights Prediction
The Las Vegas Golden Knights are one of the most suprising and heartwarming stories in NHL history. In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals two nights ago, the Golden Knights grinded out a victory over the visiting Los Angeles Kings. Will Las Vegas manage to take a commanding 2-0 series lead when the series resumes tonight?
Game Snapshot
55 Los Angeles Kings at 56 Las Vegas Golden Knights
T-Mobile Arena at 10PM ET
TV: NBCSN
Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Golden Knights are a -155 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Kings are a +135 underdog, while the total is set at 5 goals. As of Friday afternoon, 59 percent of bets are being placed on host Las Vegas. Check out our NHL Public Bets Page for all the latest information.
Golden Knights not your ordinary expansion team
There have been expansion teams in the major North American sports that have achieved success pretty early in their history. In baseball, the formerly Florida (now Miami) Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks come to mind. But both of those franchises were around for at least several years before winning a championship. Sure, the Golden Knights are not hoisting a Stanley Cup trophy as of yet. But simply making the postseason as the third seed in the Western Conference is remarkable enough. Another team’s scrap part has become Las Vegas’ treasure. Anyone who looked at this roster prior to the season would have assumed it would be a bottom feeder team. But the opposite has happened. The Golden Knights racked up 109 regular season points and now have a postseason victory under their belt after defeating the Kings 1-0 in Game 1.
Two closely matched teams
Not a lot has separated the Kings and Golden Knights in the first five meetings of their series history this season. Las Vegas has won three of the five games following the Game 1 victory, while it also won regular season games by scores of 4-2 at home and 3-2 in overtime at LA. The Kings won their two games by final scores of 3-2 at home in OT and 4-1 at Las Vegas. So basically, if Los Angeles had won the other game in overtime and found a way to sneak out the Game 1 victory it would be winners of four of the five games. That obviously didn’t happen, but it shows how close the margin for error is in the NHL.
Defenseman Shea Theodore scored the lone goal in Game 1 as he scored at the 16:37 mark of the first period on an assist from Tomas Nosek. Defense on both sides dominated the rest of the way as that tally held up. Las Vegas goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 30 shots that came his way to record the shutout. Jonathan Quick was also stellar for LA as he notched 27 saves on 28 shots.
Prediction:
This series has the potential to be as spectacular and closely contested as Game 1, perhaps for a full seven games. Of the three games on the schedule, the Kings have the best chance of pulling off the upset. Considering how they have been only a play or two away in a couple of the losses to Las Vegas this season including two nights ago, I’m going to say the visitors find a way to get the win tonight behind another outstanding effort from Quick.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES KINGS +135