NHL.com identifies key games and players to watch throughout the 2023-24 season.
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Note: Betting lines provided by Betway (WE, Ontario)
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1. Los Angeles Kings vs. New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; BSW, MSG)
More than 6 goals in total: -120
Less than 6 goals in total: +100
Two of the top five teams in the NHL standings meet when the Rangers (18-6-1, 37 points; tied for third) host the Kings (16-4-4, 36 points, fifth). Teams will compete in the second straight game after each Saturday loss; Los Angeles led 2-0 in the third period against the New York Islanders, but lost 3-2 in overtime, while New York was shut out 4-0 against the Washington Capitals. It was the Kings’ first road loss after winning an NHL record 11 such games in a row to start the season.
Los Angeles and New York are each among the leaders in NHL team save percentage; the Kings are fourth (.916) and the Rangers are tied for eighth (.908). Before Adrian Kempe has a streak of four consecutive games with at least five points (one goal, four assists) in the period and is tied with Kevin Fiala for the most points for the Kings (25 in 24 games). Rangers defender Adam Fox has five assists, including three on the power play, in five games since returning from injury.
2. San Jose Sharks vs. Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, NBCSCA, SN)
SJS financial line: +265
VGK currency line: -355
The Golden Knights, the defending Stanley Cup champions, are 4-0-1 in their last five games, outscoring their opponents 21-8 over that span. The Sharks are 5-2-0 in their last seven games, with road wins over the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings (in Patrick Kanestart of the season) during this period. But Vegas is 2-0-0 against San Jose this season, outscoring them 9-1 in the seasonal series. Vegas’ top point producers against San Jose this season are defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (four) and forward William Karlsson (four) and Michel Amadio (three).
San Jose Forward William Eklund has five points (two goals, three assists) in his last four games, and Thomas Hertl And Mikael Granlund have streaks of four games with at least one point. Vegas deals with injuries to defensemen Shea Théodore, Alex Martinez and goalkeeper Hill Adinbut forward Ivan Barbachev bounced back from a slow start to the season with six points (one goal, five assists) in their last five games.
3. Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, NBCSCH, SN)
WSH puckline (-1.5 goals): +154
CHI puck (+1.5 goals): -185
The teams will participate in the second consecutive match; the Capitals ended a three-game winless streak with a victory over the Rangers on Saturday, and Chicago has posted back-to-back home wins over the Anaheim Ducks (1-0 Thursday) and the St. Louis Blues ( 3-1 Saturday). Washington and Chicago are tied for the second fewest goals per game (2.42), ahead of San Jose (2.15).
This will be the first clash between the Capitals forward Alex Ovechkinwho ranks second in NHL history in goals (827; behind Wayne Gretzky‘s 894) and Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard, who leads his class with 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in his first 26 games. Ovechkin has been held scoreless over his last nine games, but he has a high shot volume (30 shots on goal) over that span. Bedard has only scored one goal in his last nine games, but he also has 30 shots on goal in that span.
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