Kings vs. Avalanche Prediction and Betting Pick (April 16, 2021)

The Los Angeles Kings are in rebuild mode, which can go a long way in explaining why they have lost nine of their last 12 games coming into this matchup. Meanwhile Colorado just keeps on keeping on after a hard win against St. Louis. The Avalanche have now won four straight and are 21-3-3 in the last 27 games.

Let’s take a look at this matchup, the fifth of eight between the teams this season, from a betting perspective in our Kings vs. Avalanche betting preview with odds, picks and predictions.

Despite an apparent mismatch this evening, the Kings have been plucky against the top four teams in the conference this season, going 10-12-4 in 26 games and will attempt to deliver another upset in this one.

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Kings vs. Avalanche Betting Pick

The Kings are just 1-3-0 against Colorado this season and have struggled to score against the Avalanche, posting just seven goals in four games. However, the Kings have done a nice job defensively against the Avalanche, something not many teams can boast, keeping them under three goals a game (2.75) through those four contests.

The Avalanche are indicative of their name when you consider how they put up goals. The offense comes at opponents fast, hard and without time to seek cover. They are a heavy team that dominates puck possession, led by Nathan MacKinnon, whose play this season has him in the Hart Trophy conversation.

Also of note, the Avalanche are 12-0-1 in their last 13 home games.

Kings vs. Avalanche Odds

Here are the lines for Kings vs. Avalanche at DraftKings Sportsbook:

Spread: Kings (+1.5 -103), Avalanche (-1.5 -117)
Moneyline: Kings (+255); Avalanche(-305)
Over/Under: Over 6 (-104)/Under 6 (-118)

Bets We Like With a Kings Win

UNDER 6.5 goals AND Kings +2.5 (+132, DraftKings)

The Kings do tend to keep games low-scoring and have played the Avalanche close in each contest this season.

If you even think the Kings have the slightest chance of pulling the upset here, why not combine a couple alternative bets and get good value. Bumping the over/under up a half puck to 6.5 puts the line higher than any outcome between these two teams thus far this season. And, pushing the line up one goal to +2.5 for LA makes for a spread that would have covered in three of the four meetings.

If the Kings can keep it competitive, this is a great value play.

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Bets We Like With an Avalanche Win

Mikko Rantanen OVER 0.5 goals (+148, FanDuel)

The luck ran out on betting Nathan MacKinnon to have a multi-point game last time out, but he still picked up an assist on a goal by Rantanen, running his point streak to 11 games and an incredible 18-of-19.

Many of those points have come assisting Rantanen, who is second in the NHL in goals scored with 26. This dynamic duo hooks up often, and Rantanen is feeling it lately with five goals in the last four games and 13 in the last 16 contests. He’s almost a sure bet to find the net again tonight, and these are nice odds for that.

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Bets We Like Independent of Outcome

Avalanche to score first and win the match (-139, DraftKings)

We think the Avalanche are going to win the game, but it’s going to be close. We already gave you a sneaky good bet on that front earlier by moving the puck line and the over/under.

Throw in this one, where the Avalanche score first and win. It pulls the Avalanche money line all the way down to -139 from -305 assuming they score the first goal. And you know what? They’ve scored first in every game against the Kings this season.

Kings vs. Avalanche Prediction

The Avalanche are too good at home and are too talented overall for Los Angeles. Still, to the Kings’ credit, they hang in there against the team that is emerging as the Stanley Cup favorite.

We think there are some smart and alternate ways to bet this game and not have to risk a bundle just in case LA pulls off the upset. Follow the thoughts above and bank on Colorado to win this one by a 4-2 final.