The Los Angeles Kings blew the Pacific Division title in the last weekend of the regular season. Now, they've got to contend with the San Jose Sharks, who will know headed into Game 1 of this series that they've got what it takes to take out one of the toughest teams in the West.
Stanley Cup Playoff Odds at BookMaker.eu
San Jose Sharks +130
Los Angeles Kings -150
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Kings were favored by some really big margins at the end of the year, and they really hurt their bettors as a result. Just in the last three weeks, they were topped at -230 by Winnipeg, -200 at Vancouver and -161 at Winnipeg.
They're not quite favored by that big of a margin in this game, but the mark of -150 is still definitely notable by the standards of this time of year.
GOALIE REPORT
Teacher and student meet in the playoffs. That may as well be the headline for this series.
Quick has been here and done that before. He's got a pair of Stanley Cups, and he's never had a really bad postseason in his career. His career 2.22 GAA is awesome in the second season, and his 40 wins will put him in the thick of the Vezina Trophy chase.
The argument could be made though, that Jones was the better goalie this year. In his first year as a full-time starter, the 26-year old went 37-23-4 with a 2.27 GAA and a .918 save percentage to go along with six shutouts. His counting stats aren't quite as strong as those of Quick, and he doesn't have the same name recognition, but let's not forget that there were grumblings in LA several years ago that Jones would be the goalie of the future of this team and not Quick.
LIVE BETTING
The real key in Game 1 of this series is pace of play. These aren't the same Sharks you're used to seeing just fly up and down the ice. Sure, they score goals, but they've been much better defensively and have a bit of a tactical side to them as well, particularly when you get past the first couple lines.
San Jose quietly was second in the league in shots allowed per game at 27.4, and though they were just No. 11 in scoring defense, they also had nine shutouts as a team.
The Kings outshoot their opponents all the time, and this game probably won't be an exception. But if Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli aren't leading charge after charge and averaging more than 10 shots per period, the LA offense could be in a bit of trouble.
QUICK PICK
We get the feeling we're going to be betting on the Sharks in this series quite a bit, particularly early on. Most will remember the epic collapses San Jose has suffered in the postseason time and time again, but this is a different team. This is one which is a lot more ready to play in the playoffs, and it's one which has a goalie which can lead it to the Promised Land.
Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski are both still superstars, and though Patrick Marleau had a rough year on the +/- front, he's still capable of taking over a game.
These games are going to be tossups as we see it, and that's why we're leaning towards San Jose perhaps every night out, and certainly in Game 1.
NHL Odds: Sharks 3, Kings 2
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Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The matchup between the San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings will start at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at the Staples Center. Game 1 of this series will be televised live on CNBC.
