The Calgary Flames (35-37-5) take on the LA Kings (41-26-11) Thursday at Crypto.com Arena. Puck drop is set for 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Flames vs. Kings odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Flames are closing out their season with rather dull embers. They beat the lowly San Jose Sharks Tuesday night but needed overtime to get the 3-2 W. They are just 2-8 over the last 10 games, and all of the losses were by more than 1 goal. One bright spot has been LW Andrei Kuzmenko, who has 10 goals and 9 assists in 24 games since being traded from Vancouver. He had 8 goals and 13 assists in 43 games before the deal.
The Kings were humbled by a 3-1 loss in Anaheim Tuesday night. They sit 1 point ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights for 3rd place in the Pacific Division with 4 games to go for each. Should the Kings falter, the St. Louis Blues are clinging to hope 4 points behind LA, who has a game in hand. So it’s possible the Kings could miss the playoffs altogether.
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Flames at Kings odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:55 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Flames +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Kings -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Flames +1.5 (-160) | Kings -1.5 (+135)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Flames at Kings projected goalies
Jacob Markstrom (23-21-2, 2.74 GAA, .906 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Cam Talbot (25-19-6, 2.49 GAA, .914 SV%, 3 SO)
Markstrom has lost his last 2 starts and allowed 8 goals in the process, stopping 47 of 55. He has had some success against the Kings this year, though. He’s 2-1-0 with a 2.68 GAA and stopped 66 of 74 shots fired his way. The most recent was March 30 in a 4-2 winner with 16 saves on 18 shots.
Talbot was between the pipes for the Tuesday loss to the Ducks, stopping 24 of 27. He has allowed 3+ goals in 4 of 5 starts. He’s 1-1 with a 3.04 GAA and .912 SV% against the Flames this season. He stopped 62 of 68 fired his way.
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Flames at Kings picks and predictions
Prediction
Kings 5, Flames 3
Moneyline
Calgary has won 2 of 3 meetings this year, but the Kings won the one at home 5-3. Guess where they are and what we’re predicting? Kings win 5-3. The problem, though, is they’re going to cost you twice your potential profit, and that’s a no-go.
PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
Each game this season has ended in a multiple-goal deficit, and we’re projecting another Thursday night. The loss to the Ducks will serve as a wakeup call, and the KINGS -1.5 (+135) is a good value.
Over/Under
The Flames are 5-4-1 O/U in their last 10, and the Kings are 6-4. The first 3 meetings had 8, 6 and 6 goals scored.
So while this has definite push potential, I love the OVER 6 (+100).
Neither goalie is really on top of their game, and I don’t see a sweat coming.
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