Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Vegas Play of the Day: Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks

NHL Preseason - Kings vs. Rangers

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick puts on his helmet before their pre season game against the New York Rangers Friday, Sept. 27, 2013 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Kings won 4-1.

For the first time since the day after the end of the regular season, there’s not a single NBA point spread up on the South Point betting board or anywhere else.

I regrettably haven’t kept up with the everyday grind of baseball season, so the Play of the Day, which features starting bankrolls of $10,000, falls to the NHL Playoffs to close the work week.

Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks over 5 goals at plus-125: $260 to win $325

The first-ever playoff I-5 hockey series couldn’t have gone much better. Not only did the Southern California rivals advance to tonight’s game 7, but the total score between the two teams is a symmetrical 13-13 in the first six contests.

Yes, that means most games have gone under the total. Only one went over, in fact, with two more resulting in pushes.

But both offenses should show up tonight, and I’m not confident enough in either goalie to pass on a plus-price. As impressive as John Gibson has performed in front of the net for the Ducks, it’s hard to get over the knowledge that he was stopping shots in the minors less than a month ago.

Experience is typically overrated, in my opinion, but there’s something to the pressure associated with a Game 7. Something that a 20-year-old goalie with six career starts might struggle with.

Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is undefeated in Game 7s lifetime, but he’s never met the Ducks in one. They’re a team that’s given him great trouble, as Anaheim has gone 6-3 against Quick this year dating back to the regular season.

He surrendered four goals on 24 shots in Game 5, which set his save percentage back far enough to fall to last out of seven goalies with at least 10 starts in the postseason.

Either team is capable of breaking out and scoring four goals on their own.

Standings: Bern (24-17-1, $11,350), Keefer (20-25, $7,828), Brewer (18-22-3, $7,370)

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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