Kings vs Hurricanes Prediction, Preview, Odds and Picks Jan 31
Kings Bracing for Hurricanes
The Los Angeles Kings had their three-game winning streak snapped by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday in a 5-2 defeat. There is danger that the one loss could become the start of a losing streak as they’re an underdog in the sportsbook against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.
Carolina remains one of the best teams in the league, winning its last five games and seven out of its last eight overall. The Hurricanes are also coming off a 4-1 beatdown on the Boston Bruins, arguably their most impressive win of the season.
Are the Hurricanes going to cash on the NHL betting odds as expected?
Let’s check the latest NHL news, stats, injury reports, and NHL lines for Kings vs Hurricanes. We’ve got plenty of NHL picks for you to consider.
Goaltending Change Boosts Kings
The Los Angeles Kings have rolled with Jonathan Quick for most of the season, but the results haven’t been there. In just the month of January, he’s 0-3-0 with a 3.52 goals-against average and a .857 save percentage, so that’s prompted a change.
Los Angeles has turned to Pheonix Copley as their top netminder and the results have been really good. He’s 15-3-0 with a 2.82 GAA and a .901 save percentage.
The save percentage is lackluster – it’s just .896 in January – but the team is rallying around Copley. The Kings have won seven of his last nine starts.
If you bet online, it really might be as simple as checking who is in net for the Kings. The team has lost nine straight times when Quick has been in net. With Copley, they’ve won three straight and six of eight.
Andersen Return Reinforces Hurricanes
Carolina has remained one of the best defensive teams up to this point and doesn’t seem to be slipping either. The Hurricanes rank fourth in the NHL in goals allowed per game at 2.61 with three different goaltenders that are capable of starting.
It’s a luxury that not many other teams have and the Hurricanes are taking full advantage of it. Pyotr Kochetkov held the fort down for a while but now Antti Raanta and Frederik Andersen are back in charge.
Raanta and Andersen have combined to start the last five games, and the team has been especially good with Andersen back in net. The team has won six straight when he’s been between the pipes.
Raanta hasn’t been bad either, even if his .897 save percentage says otherwise. The team has won nine of the last 10 times he’s played. And if Kochetkov gets the nod, he’ll be bringing his 10-4-5 record, a 2.33 GAA and a .913 save percentage.
Kings vs Hurricanes Game Injuries
Kings vs Hurricanes Head-to-Head
Carolina won the lone matchup 4-2 this season.
Kings vs Hurricanes Game Information
- Game: Kings (28-18-6) Hurricanes (32-9-8)
- Location: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
- Day/Time: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Kings vs Hurricanes Live Stream: NHL.TV
Kings vs. Hurricanes Betting Lines
Kings vs. Hurricanes Picks & Prediction
The previous matchup saw the Hurricanes take down Los Angeles 4-2 and we’re likely looking at a similar result.
The Hurricanes are on the roll right now while the Kings’ hot stretch is a bit of a mirage. Even though they’re winning with Copley between the pipes, his save percentage indicates that a downturn could be imminent.
Look for the Hurricanes to put the muzzle on the Kings’ offense and keep them to one or two goals. That should be enough to lead Carolina to another win, so take the Hurricanes with your NHL picks.
Carolina is listed at -210 in our NHL lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Hurricanes, you have a chance to win $48. Los Angeles is +175, offering a chance to win $175 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Kings a 36.36% chance to win, with the Hurricanes at 67.74%.
