After Thursday’s Tonge’s Ticket, we sit with a record of 10/24, good for a .417 percentage. With the Kings win, they hold a .423 point percentage. The team has a 4-6-3 record and is last in the West Division.
For a while, it looked like the losses would continue to pile up as the Kings season began to go off the rails with the absence of Matt Roy and Sean Walker. Fortunately, Roy will draw into the lineup tonight, which is great news when other defensive options include Kurtis MacDermid, Mark Alt, and Olli Maatta. Roy is an upgrade over all three, and Austin Strand’s solid play has been a bright spot, meaning the Kings’ team defense is in for a boost.
On the flip side, the Wild have been dealing with a massive COVID-19 outbreak. With one match up between the two teams already delayed, Tuesday’s game will go on as planned. Minnesota’s defense will be hampered heavily with Jonas Brodin, Brad Hunt, and Carsoun Soucy still on the COVID list, alongside starting goaltender Cam Talbot. According to Wild beat writer Michael Russo, they will likely be without Ian Cole as well.
Facing a hampered Wild lineup, this is a game the Kings should win. Facing a backup goalie and several defenders who otherwise wouldn’t see regular NHL time means the Kings have to take advantage. Let’s look at the best bets for Tuesday’s Kings and Wild game.
Kings money line
With the AHL season starting and a plethora of young talent knocking on the doorstep, several members on the Kings roster might need to start looking over their shoulder. Combine that with the weakened Wild lineup and the game being played on home ice and this is one the Kings better win. Here’s a fun fact for you: the underdog has won three of the last four at Staples Center. LA’s +115 makes them slight underdogs, and we’ll take that line.
Over 5.5 goals
Four of the last five between these two have hit on the over. We’ve already talked about the Wild’s defense, and the Kings have shown they are certainly beatable as well. This might not be a pretty game, but it should be high scoring. Take the over and the -105 odds.
Gabe Vilardi to score
Vilardi has only scored six goals in his first 23 games, but two of them have come against the Wild. This bet is largely contingent on how the Kings lines shake up come puck drop. Based on the projections, the young center should be flanked by Adrian Kempe and Jeff Carter on the wing. Seems as if Todd McLellan figured out Mike Amadio isn’t a second line center and Vilardi will get his shot next to two teammates who can help generate chances. Give us the +370 odds that Vilardi lights the lamp later tonight.
Looking for more betting picks? Make sure you follow @HockeysBestBets for my daily picks from around the league. You can also follow my personal account at @AndyTonge1 for my insight on the Kings and much more. Good luck and happy betting!