The Los Angeles Kings travel north to take on the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.
The pregame narrative: Two Pacific Division rivals square off, both desperate to get in the win column. I’m backing the road team to pull away with two points. I also have plays on Jake DeBrusk and Quinn Hughes.
Check out my Kings vs. Canucks picks for Jan. 16.
Kings vs. Canucks picks
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Best bet: DeBrusk under 1.5 shots (-108)
DeBrusk hasn’t been shooting the puck a ton despite his production this season.
He paces the Canucks in goals (17) but has been on a cold stretch lately, with just three in his last 15 games.
DeBrusk’s career-high 19.1 shooting percentage plays a factor. He’s on track to break his single-season goals record (27) and is shooting the puck at an ultra-efficient rate.
Vancouver has the second-lowest shots on goal per game (25.2), ahead of only the Chicago Blackhawks.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Canucks are second-worst in high-danger chances per 60 (9.59).
Key stat: DeBrusk has gone under 1.5 shots in six of the last seven games.
Quick picks
Kings moneyline (-110): Since taking over the job midway through last season, L.A. coach Jim Hiller has made the Kings into one of the best defensive teams.
Here’s how they rank amongst the rest of the league:
- 1st in goals allowed/game: 2.41
- 1st in shots allowed/game: 24.9
- 1st in expected goals against per 60: 2.48
- 9th in penalty kill: 82.1%
The Kings goalie tandem of Darcy Kuemper and David Rittich has been good enough for the top spot in team goals against average (2.41).
The Canucks have been on a recent skid, winning just one of their last six games.
Hughes under 2.5 shots (-150): I love me some Quinn Hughes, but his shots on goal production has diminished as of late.
This bet has cashed in six straight and eight of the last 10.
As previously mentioned, the Kings are one of the best defensive teams in the NHL and the Canucks have struggled to find the back of the net recently.
In Vancouver’s last four games, they’ve mustered just five goals.
Los Angeles allows the third-fewest high-danger chances against per 60 (9.91).
Picks made at 4:30 p.m. ET on 01/16/2025.
