Kings vs Ducks Odds & Picks: Los Angeles Under Pressure to Keep Winning

The Los Angeles Kings (40-27-10) hope to win consecutive games for the first time since April 2 when they visit the Anaheim Ducks (30-33-14) on Tuesday in a key Pacific Division clash. The Kings vs Ducks prediction has the visitors as the better team as they try to hold on to third place in the division with the Vegas Golden Knights still three points back.

Kings vs Ducks Odds & Analysis

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The heat is definitely on Los Angeles here, with the two-time Stanley Cup champions attempting to return to the playoffs for the first time since Vegas swept them in the first round four years ago. The Kings have also not won a series in the postseason since they hoisted their last Cup in 2014 after finishing third in the Pacific that year too.

Meanwhile, Anaheim has already been eliminated and is relegated to playing the spoiler role in this spot. The Ducks have been performing nearly as well as their opponent, though, and bettors are supporting them in early action, driving them from +150 home underdogs down to +136. This is another game that will show if Los Angeles is playoff-worthy or not.

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Kings Hungry For Postseason Berth With Veterans Growing Older

Los Angeles won both Cups with goaltender Jonathan Quick (19-13-9, 2.67 goals-against average) between the pipes, and the 36-year-old veteran has been good enough this season to give the team another shot at the playoffs. Whether it happens or not remains to be seen, but the Kings control their own destiny with five games remaining.

They also have Quick’s heir apparent, Cal Petersen (20-14-1, 2.90), who had a better GAA (2.89) and save percentage (.911) last season despite posting 11 fewer wins and four more losses. This appears to be Quick’s team down the stretch with Petersen dropping each of his last three starts, and Los Angeles needs to see the vintage player that was so great during the team’s Cup runs in order to make the postseason.

Anaheim’s Future Bright Despite Another Losing Season

For a little while early on, the Ducks looked like they may have arrived ahead of schedule to challenge for a playoff spot. Unfortunately for them and their fans, that has not been the case since the NHL all-star break, as they have fallen well below the .500 mark as the sixth-place team in the division.

However, they would love more than anything to spoil the postseason chances of this Pacific rival and help keep the Kings home yet again. That is a distinct possibility for Anaheim, as the team has played slightly better at home with a 17-17-5 mark and beaten some very good teams like the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning there as home dogs in 2022. In other words, the Kings vs Ducks prediction could see a live dog situation ruin it and make the fans and backers of the hosts happy.

Kings vs Ducks Pick & Insights

Kings: Keys To Victory

Los Angeles has an easier schedule to wrap up the regular season but cannot afford to look past anyone, especially a division rival like Anaheim. This is where coaching comes into play, and the players have excelled away from home this year, with the team going 21-11-6 on the road and Quick posting better numbers there than at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings might need to win all of their last three road games to get into the playoffs.

Ducks: Keys To Victory

Anaheim has struggled mightily since the calendar changed to 2022, but the team’s recent four-game road trip showed it still has something left in the tank. While the Ducks went 1-1-2 on the trip, they led and went to overtime with both the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, showing they are still competitive and have not given up. Anaheim may be sparked by the recent retirement announcement of captain Ryan Getzlaf as well. You can bet Getzlaf wants to beat this foe twice in the team’s next two games to help end his career on a positive note, making a Kings vs Ducks pick on the dogs a bit intriguing.

Odds Shark’s Computer Kings vs Ducks Prediction: Kings -160

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