by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Nov 08, 2022
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Where to watch: ESPN+/HULU
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Wild -115, Kings -105
FanDuel: Wild -115, Kings -105
BetMGM: Kings -115, Wild -105
Caesars: EVEN
Season record
Wild: 5-5-1 (11 points)
Kings: 7-6-1 (15 points)
What an electric start to the NHL season. So much parity, so many good teams through the first 10-plus games, you have every right to be excited! Of course the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins are heading the fun charge here as the top two teams in the league, because of course they are. But never count out the Avalanche, you know they're always going to be hanging around and will be eating worlds once they get everyone healthy. But this is a good time to be playing these hockey games, as well. Look no further than our own Vegas Writer off to a 14-11-0 start over the first 30 days of the NHL season. There's also ASA, Inc. posting a 10-5-1 mark through the first month. You know you can trust our champion handicappers to get you across the finish line with your NHL bets. Check out our Best Bets page at bigal.com to see what we're throwing down!
Wild - Kings preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Wild: lost 4-0 vs. Kraken on Nov. 3
Kings: won 5-4 vs. Panthers on Saturday
Safe to say that these starts were not in the cards for the Minnesota Wild or Los Angeles Kings a month into the season. The Wild are losing a lot of games and giving up a lot of goals, while the Kings are sort of doing the same but are clearly showing they are regressing toward the means from the start of the year.
Safe to say that these starts were not in the cards for the Minnesota Wild or Los Angeles Kings a month into the season. The Wild are losing a lot of games and giving up a lot of goals, while the Kings are sort of doing the same but are clearly showing they are regressing toward the means from the start of the year.
The teams will meet in L.A. on Tuesday in what could either be a springboard for the winner or just a one-off. I really can’t tell with either one, especially with the Wild. They can go win four of five and then lay a clunker at home against the surging Seattle Kraken, much like they did over the weekend, to put them back to Earth. Because nothing says “help, we’re in trouble” than getting shut out at home by Martin Jones.
"I don't know. I'm not going to try to make excuses," Minnesota coach Dean Evason said. "We just flat out didn't have the energy level that we needed to play here tonight."
Marc-Andre Fleury made 19 saves, and it’s been a major struggle for him out of the gate. Fleury has gone 5-2-1 in eight starts, but his GAA is hovering near 3.50 and his save percentage is well below .900. It hasn’t helped that Filip Gustavsson has lost all three starts he’s had while Cam Talbot is about to make his Ottawa run very soon.
But this team is too talented to be struggling out of the starter’s gate. Kirill Kaprizov has absolutely done what has been asked of him (13 points in 11 games), but the Wild need another name or two to step up and make some plays.
The same can be said with the Kings, who are 3-3-0 at home to begin the year and have yet to capitalize off their shocking playoff run from last year. But the Kings are coming off a 5-4 win against the powerhouse Florida Panthers after losing in Chicago and Dallas last week. Gabe Villardi scored his ninth goal of the season, the eventual winner with 3 minutes to go, and Viktor Arvidsson and Trevor Moore added two points each. Jonathan Quick also turned back the clock with 34 saves.
"We have a lot of young guys that are growing and getting that confidence, and we're getting good depth. I mean, we have four lines who can score now, so when you have four lines that can score, it kind of rolls over and you can get more sustained O-zone," Moore said.
Getting that kind of win against Florida has to be good for this young team’s confidence. It’s a matter of stringing them consistently. The Kings have a lot of tough teams to face in the Pacific Division, with the Vegas Golden Knights running away with the division lead right now, and the Seattle Kraken playing well. They can’t afford to let any more games get away from them. Unfortunately, this doesn’t spell well for L.A.
Prediction
Fleury has had a lot of games against the Kings in the past, and he’s done very well. I can see him having another star performance in this one and getting the Wild to a much-needed victory. Sometimes you need the goalie to bail you out. Who better than Flower? Wild win 3-1
Betting trends
Wild are 42-23 off an under the last three years.
Wild are 17-7 off a home loss the last three years.
Wild are 34-27 off a loss the last three years.
Kings are 32-24 after allowing 4 goals or more last game.
Kings are 16-17 off a home win the last three years.
Kings are 34-40 off a win in their last game the last three years.
Projected lines
Wild:
Kirill Kaprizov -- Frederick Gaudreau -- Mats Zuccarello
Mason Shaw -- Joel Eriksson Ek -- Matt Boldy
Sam Steel -- Marco Rossi -- Tyson Jost
Connor Dewar -- Steven Fogarty
Jacob Middleton -- Jared Spurgeon
Jonas Brodin -- Calen Addison
Jon Merrill -- Matt Dumba
Alex Goligoski
Marc-Andre Fleury
Kirill Kaprizov -- Frederick Gaudreau -- Mats Zuccarello
Mason Shaw -- Joel Eriksson Ek -- Matt Boldy
Sam Steel -- Marco Rossi -- Tyson Jost
Connor Dewar -- Steven Fogarty
Jacob Middleton -- Jared Spurgeon
Jonas Brodin -- Calen Addison
Jon Merrill -- Matt Dumba
Alex Goligoski
Marc-Andre Fleury
Kings:
Adrian Kempe -- Anze Kopitar -- Gabriel Vilardi
Trevor Moore -- Phillip Danault -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Rasmus Kupari -- Carl Grundstrom
Brendan Lemieux -- Blake Lizotte -- Arthur Kaliyev
Mikey Anderson -- Drew Doughty
Sean Durzi -- Matt Roy
Alexander Edler -- Sean Walker
Jonathan Quick
Adrian Kempe -- Anze Kopitar -- Gabriel Vilardi
Trevor Moore -- Phillip Danault -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Rasmus Kupari -- Carl Grundstrom
Brendan Lemieux -- Blake Lizotte -- Arthur Kaliyev
Mikey Anderson -- Drew Doughty
Sean Durzi -- Matt Roy
Alexander Edler -- Sean Walker
Jonathan Quick
Statistical leaders
Wild:
Points: Kirill Kaprizov -- 13
Goals: Kirill Kaprizov -- 8
Assists: Mats Zuccarello -- 7
Goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury -- 5-2-1, 3.41 GAA, .888 SV%
Kings:
Points: Gabe Villardi -- 14
Goals: Gabe Villardi -- 9
Assists: Kevin Fiala -- 11
Goalie: Jonathan Quick -- 4-4-1, 3.34 GAA, .890 SV%
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Minnesota Wild - Los Angeles Kings prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NHL projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
