Welcome back to NHL Predictions here at Last Word on Hockey! Each day of the NHL season, we preview and analyze games to give our predictions. Today, we’ll be taking a closer look at a game between the Los Angeles Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets. Be sure to check back each day to follow along with our predictions throughout the season.
Time: 7 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time)
TV: ESPN+, FanDuel Sports Network
Tonight the Los Angeles Kings travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on a soaring Blue Jackets team. Columbus and Los Angeles will be playing in the final game in their season series against each other. Los Angeles will look to go for the sweep, after having won the first contest between the two this season by a score of 5-2. Columbus has improved since then, and has been playing some of their best hockey of the season.
The Kings come into the night at third place in the Pacific Division. After a disappointing road trip in which they went 2-3 against mostly Pacific Division teams, the Kings returned home for two games. They under performed in against the Penguins in a 5-1 loss. They won their next game against the defending champion Florida Panthers in a tight 2-1 battle.
The most important aspect that the Kings will look to improve on will be their offense. Since January 1st, Los Angeles has scored more than 2 goals in a game only twice. They’ve also been limited to 1 or fewer goals in four games in the new year. The defense has been largely solid, but it will need to improve down the stretch. They’ll look to regain their offensive capabilities tonight against the Blue Jackets.
The Blue Jackets have been a great story so far this season. They currently sit at fourth place in the Metropolitan Division. Should the season end today, Columbus would find themselves in the playoffs. The Blue Jackets have won their last four games at home, so playing at Nationwide Arena should be a big boost for them. The home ice advantage should be a a boost for a Jackets team that has lost three of their last four on the road.
Columbus has been able to get good production across their lineup this year. Zach Werenski leads the team in points while the big forward Kiril Marchenko leads in goals. Big contributors also include veteran Sean Monahan, who has 41 points, and youngster Adam Fantilli, who has 28. Fantilli is coming off his first career hat trick on Wednesday in Toronto.
Two players, one from each team, seem to have had the hot hand lately. Adrian Kempe has scored a goal in each of his last four games and is now up to 24 on the season. FanDuel Sports book has him as +160 to score tonight.
Also keep an eye on Adam Fantilli. The former third overall pick recently scored a huge hat trick in Toronto and has 6 points in his last 5 games. FanDuel has him as +210 to score a goal tonight.
Both teams will be looking to get back into their rhythm in this game. Of course, the Blue Jackets will hold home ice advantage tonight. However, the past few matches between these two teams have been heavily in favor of Los Angeles. In their last 5 games, the Kings are 4-0-1 against the Blue Jackets. For this reason, we are predicting a Kings win.
Main Photo: David Rittich- Imagn-Images
Prediction: Los Angeles Kings win, 4-2.
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