With two Stanley Cups since 2012 many experts thought Los Angeles would own Vegas. With the best goals against in the NHL the Kings can clamp down. Golden Knights hockey is all about taking the attack. Such tactics made Vegas champs of the Pacific Division. But attacking teams often get suffocated in the playoffs. Thus, this series rated as a tossup with the NHL Playoff lines. So far Vegas owning just a bit more offense has given them the edge. LA tried to jumpstart their offense with a new coach. Secondary scoring is yet to be found.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Los Angeles Kings Game 4
Date and Time: Tuesday April 17, 2018,10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
NHL Betting Online Odds at SBG:
| Team | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Knights | +1½ (-280) | 5 (-110) |  |
| Kings | -1½ (-110) | 5 (-110) | |
| |||
Golden Knights vs. Kings TV Coverage: NBCSN
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas owns a 3-0 series lead. Los Angeles will be eliminated with a loss in game four. Should the Kings win, game five will be in Vegas on Thursday. Game three saw the Golden Knights prevail 3-2. LA outshout Vegas 39-26 but Marc Andre Fleury was steadfast. Fleury posted 37 saves for Vegas. In this series his save percentage is .970. Lack of finish has long been a problem for the Kings. Despite numerous offensive opportunities they simply couldn’t close. Don’t blame Los Angeles netminder Jonathan Quick for the series deficit. Quick has a sparkling .945 save percentage.
Vegas Success
Vegas is the most successful expansion team in major league sports history. Golden Knights backers began the season with hopes of respectability. What followed was a division title. “Welcome to Impossible” greets fans on the Vegas scoreboard at their home games. It has become a rallying cry. A marathon double overtime win in game two created hysteria in Sin City. A sense of destiny has taken hold for the NHL playoff lines. Nobody could have fathomed so much so soon for a new expansion team.
Gary Bettman
Gary Bettman and the NHL get their share of criticism. Much of it is justified. However, the league deserves credit for realizing that the Vegas franchise was too big to fail. That it had to be competitive from the start. Engineering a fair expansion draft now looks like genius. Las Vegas is enthralled with its hockey team. Thousands stood to send them off from the practice facility on Saturday.
The Kings Reign
The Kings are “old money” for sportsbook hockey gamblers. Long respected for their defensive structure LA was built from the goal out. Even in their Stanley Cup years offense was often a problem. Goal scoring may be the death of the Kings this year. John Stevens provided a fresh voice and new ideas as coach. He tried to loosen up play to create scoring. But there is just not much to be found with this roster.
Matchup to Watch
Los Angeles is truly past its prime. And outclassed by Vegas here. The Golden Knights are younger, faster and better offensively. Fleury is a proven playoff goaltender. It’s becoming more understandable why they are a NHL Playoff lines favorite. In this matchup Vegas has the deeper and more capable lineup.
Golden Knights vs. Kings NHL Playoff Lines Picks
Vegas should close out the series with a win in game four.
NHL Betting Online Pick: Vegas Golden Knights
NHL Betting Online Score Prediction: Golden Knights 3, Kings 1