The Los Angeles Kings (14-10-4) and Toronto Maple Leafs (16-5-6) meet Thursday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Kings vs. Maple Leafs odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Kings kicked off a 6-game Eastern Conference road trip with a convincing 5-2 victory Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. L.A. has alternated wins and losses in each of the last 6 games, going 3-2-1, while cashing the Over in 5 of those outings.
The Maple Leafs had a dominant 4-0 win in the Metroplex against the Dallas Stars Tuesday, and Toronto is 6-0-1 in the last 7 games, while cashing the Over at a 4-1 clip in the last 5 contests.
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Kings at Maple Leafs odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:18 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Kings +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Maple Leafs -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Kings +1.5 (-160) | Maple Leafs -1.5 (+130)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Kings at Maple Leafs projected goalies
Jonathan Quick (8-7-2, 3.33 GAA, .888 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Ilya Samsonov (7-2-0, 2.09 GAA, .924 SV%)
Quick coughed up 4 goals on 31 shots in his most recent showing at home against the Carolina Hurricanes Saturday night. The American-born backstop has allowed 3 or more goals in each of his last 4 starts.
Samsonov has been oft-injured this season, but when he has been in the crease, he has been good. He was 3-0-0 with a 1.51 GAA and .937 SV% in 3 starts in November. Samsonov does have a start against Los Angeles, as Toronto fell 4-2 in SoCal o Oct. 29 as he allowed 4 goals on 29 shots.
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Kings at Maple Leafs picks and predictions
Prediction
Maple Leafs 4, Kings 2
The MAPLE LEAFS (-175) is just under my personal limit for a moneyline play. The Leafs have been red-hot lately (6-0-1 in last 7), while posting a 39-15 record in the previous 54 games at home.
Yes, the Kings (+150) won the first meeting in L.A., but Toronto is 4-0 in the last 4 against Western Conference teams, while going 5-2 in the previous 7 home meetings against L.A. at home.
Puck line/Against the spread
The MAPLE LEAFS -1.5 (+130) have not only been hot lately, they have been ticking off covers on the puck line.
Toronto won 4-0 last time out as a slight ‘dog in Big D, and it has covered the puck line in each of the last 7 games either as a favorite or underdog.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-115) is the slight lean here, although the concern is whether or not Quick can keep down the high-octane Leafs offense.
Toronto has scored 3 or more goals in each of the last 6 games, but the Under is 4-1 in the last 5 thanks to solid penalty killing and goaltending.
The Over is on a 3-0 run for Los Angeles, but the Under did cash by a half-goal in the first meeting.
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