Washington Capitals at Los Angeles Kings

By Sam Batz

The Los Angeles Kings will host the Washington Capitals in a cross-conference matchup on Monday, March 6th (10:30 PM EST, ESPN+/BSW). The Kings fell to the Capitals earlier this season in a tightly contested 3-4 loss. Since then however, Los Angeles has rocketed to the top of their division, while the Capitals have fizzled out into irrelevance. Regardless, both the Kings and Capitals enter this matchup on the shoulders of short, but important, winning streaks. Los Angeles is the favorite at -160 (ML), while Washington will need to overcome the underdog odds, which are currently priced at +135 (ML). 

Washington Capitals Breakdown (+135)

The Washington Capitals have a record of 31-27-6 with 68 points through 64 games. They are 6th in the Metropolitan Division, 18 points away from an automatic playoff berth. The Capitals have fallen to 12th place in the Eastern Conference, and with 18 regular season games left on their schedule, are being given a 14% chance to make the playoffs by FiveThirtyEight. The odds are stacked against the Capitals, and after going 3-7-0 in their last 10 games, their playoff window has narrowed. Thankfully, Washington has won back-to-back contests, and will look to carry that momentum into the matchup with Los Angeles.

Even though Washington defeated the Kings earlier in the season, they will still be considered the underdogs. The Capitals have a win-rate of 37.1% as the underdogs, which dips even further, to 34.8%, when they are on the road. Washington is coming off an impressive 8-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, but now faces a much tougher opponent in the LA Kings. Los Angeles has more goals, wins, and points than the Capitals, but Washington has allowed fewer goals. They will need to rely on their superior defense in order to overthrow the Kings on Monday. 

Los Angeles Kings Breakdown (-160)

Southern California’s favorite hockey team, the Los Angeles Kings, are on a roll. They are 36-20-8 with 80 points through 64 games, and are tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for the top-spot in the Pacific Division. The Kings are 7-2-1 in their last 10, winning their last 3 consecutive games. FiveThirtyEight (see link above) is giving Los Angeles a 96% chance to make the playoffs, but just a 7% chance to make the finals. But first things first, the Kings must defeat the Capitals in order to remain in a position of power. 

Los Angeles will be expected to beat Washington. The Kings are favored because they have more points and better standing in their respective division. However, this matchup will be a much closer contest than one might assume. Washington is fighting for their postseason lives, and could pose a dangerous threat to the Kings if not taken seriously. Los Angeles may be favored, but I anticipate the Capitals will not roll over so easily. 

Capitals vs. Kings: Season Stats

Washington Capitals (31-27-6) 68 198 (15th) 190 (13th) +8 3.09 (19th) 2.97 (13th) 15-13-3 (48.4%) 16-14-3 (48.5%)

Stat Type Pts Total GF Total GA G Diff GF/GP GA/GP Home (Win-rate) Away (Win-rate)

Los Angeles Kings (36-20-8) 80 212 (8th) 214 (22nd) -2 3.31 (11th) 3.34 (22nd) 19-9-2 (63.3%) 17-11-6 (50.0%)

Capitals vs. Kings: Betting Trends

Washington Capitals 31-33 18-15 (Away) 17-11 (vs. West) 26-33-5 4-5-1 13-18-4 (as Underdogs) 8-12-3 (Underdogs Away)

Betting Trend ATS (Season) ATS (Home/Away) ATS (Conference) O/U (Season) O/U (Last 10) ML (Favorite/Underdog) ML (Home/Away)

Los Angeles Kings 32-32 12-18 (Home) 13-16 (vs. East) 34-24-6 6-4 19-8-5 (as Favorites) 13-6-2 (Favorites Home)

Capitals vs. Kings: Odds

Team	Spread	Total	Moneyline
Washington Capitals	+1.5 (-180)	Ov 6.5 (+100)	+135
Los Angeles Kings	-1.5 (+150)	Un 6.5  (-121)	-160

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Capitals vs. Kings: Key Players

• Washington Capitals – Left Wing, Alex Ovechkin: The 37-year old NHL legend from Moscow leads his team with 60 players points (35 goals, 25 assists). In his last 10 games, Ovechkin averaged 0.4 goals, 0.3 assists, and 0.7 points. I predict the old veteran will record at least 1 point against the Kings.  

• Los Angeles Kings – Left Wing, Kevin Fiala: The 26-year old from Switzerland leads the Kings with 66 player points (22 goals, 44 assists). In his last 10, Fiala averaged 0.4 goals, 0.7 assists, and 1.10 points. I predict he will get at least 1 assist against the Capitals.

Capitals vs. Kings: Prediction

Take the LA Kings (-160) to win. They are the better team despite losing to the Capitals early in the season, but that doesn’t mean this game will be a walk in the park. I expect this one to be a hard fought battle between one-side desperately clinging to their postseason hopes, against another side looking to solidify their favorable standing. The Capitals allow fewer goals per game, but the Kings allow fewer shots per game. It will come down to who can convert the chances given to them, and who will falter in front of goal. I have more confidence that the LA Kings can get the job done, and extend their winning streak. 

Prediction: Los Angeles Kings (-160) Moneyline and the Under (6.5). Final Score: 3-2

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