The Minnesota Wild (6-5-0) visit the Los Angeles Kings (4-6-3) Tuesday for a 10 p.m. ET puck drop. Below we analyze the Wild-Kings NHL odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Wild at Kings: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:50 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Wild -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Kings +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Against the spread/ATS: Wild -1.5 (+200) | Kings +1.5 (-250)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Wild at Kings: Projected starting goalies
Kaapo Kahkonen (3-3-0, .903 SV%, 2.86 GAA) at Calvin Petersen (2-4-1, .926 SV%, 2.49 GAA)
Kahkonen is the projected starter with Cam Talbot still on the COVID-19 reserve list. Even if Talbot were well, Kahkonen might have been tabbed to face L.A. He is 1-1-0 with a 2.56 GAA and .911 SV% in two starts against the Kings this season. That includes a Jan. 28 win when he allowed 3 goals in a 5-3 Wild win. Kahkonen allowed 5 goals on 33 shots last time out against the Colorado Avalanche, but while the line looks bad, he was hung out to dry on several occasions and lost two key defensemen to injury.
While Jonathan Quick is still considered the starter, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Petersen tabbed for this start. He won last time out against the San Jose Sharks with 29 saves in a 3-2 win. Quick has been on the losing end against the Wild on three occasions this season. Petersen stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced in a Jan. 26 win over the Wild.
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Wild at Kings: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Kings 4, Wild 3
Money line (ML)
The KINGS (+115) are worth a look as short underdogs at home as long as Petersen is the starting backstop. Even if Quick starts, L.A. is attractive with Minnesota coming back from a two-week layoff due to COVID-19 within the locker room.
Los Angeles was on the short end in three of the four previous meetings this season, but the first two games could have gone either way after going to overtime.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The Kings +1.5 (-250) are just too expensive, as there is no reason to risk two and a half times your potential return on a shaky team like L.A.
Yes, they are home, and yes, Minnesota could be a little rusty after a two-week hiatus. And yes, the Kings would have covered both puck lines in the first two games against the Wild despite losing in OT; however, there is just too much risk, and not enough reward. Just take Los Angeles on the money line instead.
PASS.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER 5.5 (-105) is a good play here, as the Over cashed in three of the first four meetings this season.
The teams combined for 7 goals in each of the first two meetings at Staples Center Jan. 14 and 16, and they totaled 8 goals in the Jan. 28 meeting in St. Paul.
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