The Los Angeles Kings will try and cash their ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals Tuesday in Game 5 of their Western Conference clash against Phoenix
Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith is tied with Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist for the playoff lead in shutouts this season
Los Angeles won the first two games of this series by the score of 4-2 and 4-0. They split the next two games at home but the Kings are 7-0 on the road in these playoffs and a win tonight at Jobing.com Arena will set a new NHL record for most consecutive road wins in one postseason.
Oddsmakers have set the Kings at a -125 moneyline favorite and the total is 4.5 Over (-121) at some sportsbooks, while others have posted NHL odds at 5 Under (-180). The Kings are 11-2 overall in the playoffs with 5 overs and 8 unders, outscoring opponents 2.8 goals to 1.5 goals per game.
Goaltending has been a big part of the story for each of these teams and Jonathan Quick has a microscopic 1.46 goals against average (GAA) with a .948 save percentage (SV). Mike Smith (9-6, 1.90 GAA, .946 SV) has faced more shots (551) than any other playoff goalie and Sunday was perfect for his third shutout in the past 10 games.
OVER/UNDER NOTEBOOK
The Coyotes’ home playoff record the past three seasons is 8 overs, 3 unders and 3 pushes. The total number of overs in the West hit nine in the first Kings vs. Coyotes game and although seven of them came in the first two games of a series, this game qualifies for a system that is 73-percent since 1996.
– Play all teams over any total of 5 or less when coming off a home shutout loss vs. a division foe
This particular situation has produced 54 overs and 20 unders (73-percent) since 1996 including 19 overs and 2 unders the past five seasons.
NHL PICKS
One of the two losses in this system was May 17 in Los Angeles when the Coyotes were coming off a 4-0 home loss. Betting on a bounty of goals against either of these teams takes a certain courage but with Phoenix facing elimination, we have this game getting to at least five.
Pick: Take the Over 4.5 goals
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