San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings – As NHL regular season action heats up, Wednesday’s clash between the San Jose Sharks (9-22-3) and Los Angeles Kings (19-7-4) promises to be an entertaining encounter at Crypto.com Arena. Fans and bettors alike are keenly searching for NHL daily picks ahead of this pivotal matchup.
San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings
Date & Time: Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at 10:00 PM ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena
TV: ESPN+
San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings Betting Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Puckline | Total |
| Sharks | TBD | +290 | TBD |
| Kings | TBD | -385 | TBD |
San Jose Sharks Analysis
The San Jose Sharks have had an up and down season so far, particularly on offense. Led by Tomas Hertl and Mikael Granlund, their attack shows flashes of brilliance but lacks continuity. Hertl has been an outstanding source of hope, scoring 12 goals and 15 assists. Unfortunately, however, his team’s scoring has fallen far short, evidenced by their negative goal differential. Granlund has contributed through assists primarily, showing potential for creating scoring chances but struggling to convert these into goals. William Eklund’s performance on the left wing, where he contributed seven goals and nine assists, shows promise; however, more support should be provided from teammates to maximize this performance.
Defense for the Sharks remains their biggest weakness this season, particularly their goaltending department led by Mackenzie Blackwood’s dismal performance with an above average goals-against average and save percentage that ranks lower in the league than expected. Facing an offensive powerhouse such as Los Angeles can be particularly dangerous. Their defensive line must step up as well by decreasing high pressure shots on goal and disrupting Kings offensive plays to limit scoring opportunities; disrupting Kings offense will be essential.
Los Angeles Kings Analysis
Los Angeles Kings enter this matchup as clear favorites due to their powerful offensive lineup and impressive defense. Led by Anze Kopitar and Kevin Fiala, who have been key contributors in their team’s success this season. Kopitar’s scoring ability coupled with playmaking abilities have made him a key part of the Kings attack while his impressive plus/minus rating attests to this fact. Fiala is another key figure on offense with leading assists; additionally Adrian Kempe contributes goals and assists which add another layer of threat which threatens their opponent – who come together at both ends.
Cam Talbot has been an exceptional performer on defense for the Kings. His goaltending prowess, as evidenced by a low goals-against average and high save percentage, has been key to their successful defensive record. Complementing Talbot is a disciplined team defense which limits high-danger chances while effectively killing penalties – these two elements allow control of game pace while shutting down opposing offenses; against the Sharks who struggled for consistency scoring this season, Talbot will lead a strong defensive unit expected to dominate.
San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings Against the Spread
The San Jose Sharks are 0-5 straight up in their last five overall and 0-5 straight up in their previous five meetings with the Kings. San Jose is also just 1-6 straight up in its last seven contests against the Western Conference. However, the total has gone OVER in eight of the Sharks’ last 11 games.
For Los Angeles Kings, the total has gone UNDER in 13 of its last 17 matchups. The Kings are 11-5 straight up in their past 16 games but just 6-14 straight up in their previous 20 home contests against the Sharks.
San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings Free Pick
Based on trends, team stats, and key players, here are the picks:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Kings. The Kings’ stronger overall form and impressive home record make them the safer bet.
Spread: Los Angeles Kings. The Kings should roll against their state rival, making the extra 1.5 puckline value worth a play at plus money.
Total: UNDER. Given the Kings’ trend of low-scoring games at home and their strong goaltending, an UNDER bet seems plausible.
Predicted Score: Los Angeles Kings 3, San Jose Sharks 1
In conclusion, while the Sharks have shown some resilience in past road games against Los Angeles, the Kings’ current form and defensive strength make them the more reliable pick to bet on. This matchup presents an intriguing option for bettors at Canadian sportsbooks, with the Kings likely to extend their impressive run.
