Los Angeles Kings vs Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Pick & Prediction 12/17/24

Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Kings versus the Penguins? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The Kings are the -1.5 goal favorites in this non-conference matchup against Penguins. The over/under for the game is set at 5.5 goals.

LOS ANGELES KINGS VS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins +1.5

This game will be played at PPG Paints Arena at 7:00 ET on Tuesday, December 17th.

WHY BET THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS:

• Even though they are 1.5 goal underdogs, we see the Penguins winning this game by a score of 4-2.
• We like the Penguins on the moneyline (+119)
• The Penguins are also our pick on the spread at +1.5

Is a Road Win Possible for Los Angeles?

After a 4-3 loss to the Blackhawks, the Kings now stand at 18-9-3. Los Angeles led 3-2 in the third period, but Chicago tied it with just 31 seconds left, then won in the shootout.

The Kings were favored on the puck line, but didn’t cover. The total was set at 6 goals, and the combined 7 goals went over the line.

Alex Laferriere led the way for the Kings with his 7th and 8th goals of the season, including a power-play goal in the first period. Phillip Danault added his first goal of the year, scoring in the third period to briefly give Los Angeles a 3-2 lead.

Kevin Fiala picked up two assists, bringing his total to 5 for the season. The Kings fired 40 shots on goal but were held to just three goals. They had 13 offensive giveaways in the game.

Despite leading 3-2 with just 31 seconds left in the 3rd period, the Kings gave up a late goal and eventually lost in a shootout. Their defense also allowed the first two goals of the 3rd period. Goalie Darcy Kuemper made 18 saves, posting a save percentage of 85.7%.

Are the Penguins Ready for a Home Win?

The Penguins moved closer to .500 with a 3-1 road win over the Canadiens, bringing their record to 13-14-5. Pittsburgh covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 4 goals fell short of the 6.5 goal line.

Sidney Crosby led the way with two goals, including one in the first period and another in the second. Montreal scored in the third period, but a late empty-net goal from Blake Lizotte secured the win for Pittsburgh.

Sidney Crosby led the way for the Penguins with two goals, including his 5th of the season on a power play. Blake Lizotte added his 2nd goal of the year, netting an empty-netter with 45 seconds left in the game.

Pittsburgh took 24 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways. They scored once in each period, with Crosby’s first goal coming at 4:03 in the opening period.

Defensively, the Penguins will look to build off their last game, where they allowed just one goal to Montreal. Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves, posting a 96.2% save percentage. Pittsburgh’s defense also contributed 5 takeaways, 19 hits, and 19 blocks.