Los Angeles Kings vs Boston Bruins Predictions, Picks and Preview

Two of the most successful teams of this decade meet up in Beantown when the Boston Bruins host the Los Angeles Kings. The two franchises have combined for four Stanley Cup appearances in the last five years, and both are currently positioned to make the postseason once again. Which team will pick up the valuable win in this clash of potential cup contenders?

Get a complete breakdown of this big-time hockey matchup with our preview below. And for more of Tuesday’s top NHL action, check out our preview of the Ducks vs. Flyers.

NHL News and Predictions

Los Angeles Kings vs. Boston Bruins Preview

Where: TD Garden, Boston

When: Tuesday, February 9, 7:00 PM ET

Line: Los Angeles Kings (-105) at Boston Bruins (-115); total 5.0 – view all NHL lines

TV Broadcast: TVA

Betting on the Los Angeles Kings (31-17-3, 65 pts)

Not even the All-Star break has completely cured Jonathan Quick’s recent slump. The Kings’ star goalie was pulled in just the second period of the Kings’ 4-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday as he gave up three goals on just nine shots. Quick has now gone just 1-4 in his last five starts, giving up 15 goals in the process with a horrendous .858 save percentage.

Although, most of Quick’s struggles have come at home. He has been much more successful on the road this season, and has gone 8-2 in his last 10 road starts. The Kings are currently the West’s best road team with a record of 16-7-2.

It certainly helps that Quick’s teammates have been supplying him with a ton of goal support. The Kings have averaged 3.2 goals per game in those last 10 road games with Quick in goal.

Star center Anze Kopitar will again look to provide that kind of support for his goalie in Boston against the Bruins’ own shaky goalie. Kopitar has had back-to-back multi-point games, and has recorded at least a point in his last four games.

LA’s fourth-ranked power play unit (21.9 percent conversion) will also look to challenge the Bruins’ outstanding penalty kill. The Kings have scored 10 power play goals in their last 10 games.

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Betting on the Boston Bruins (28-18-6, 62 pts)

The Boston Bruins have played a lot of hockey of late, as their first three games of February have all gone to overtime. After losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs (4-3) at home, they got back two wins in row in a home-and-home series against the lowly Buffalo Sabres.

Brad Marchand has continued his incredible scoring run during the first three games of the month. He’s already fired home four goals in February, giving him nine in his last nine games.

The high-scoring Bruins (2.9 goals per game, third in the NHL) have managed to maintain their average despite going just 2-of-29 (6.9 percent) in their last 10 games on the power play. They remain second overall this season with a 24 percent conversion with a man advantage, though.

Goalie Tuukka Rask (2.47 GAA, .918 save percentage) has looked far from his best this season, but he did bounce back after a couple of rough home outings against the Ducks and Leafs by stopping 63 of 66 shots against the Sabres.

With backup Jonas Gustavsson just recently removed from injured reserve, Rask could be set to start for a season-high sixth-straight game. Rask has only faced the Kings twice in his career, but both times he outdueled his opposite number Jonathan Quick as the Bruins came out 3-0 and 3-1 winners at home in 2011 and 2015, respectively.

However, the Bruins have not enjoyed any home-ice advantage this season. They’re just 12-13-3 at the Garden, the only current Eastern Conference playoff team with a losing record at home.