Los Angeles Kings vs New York Rangers Picks - Madison Square Garden Stays Perfect
The Rangers make it seven straight wins at Madison Square Garden against a Kings team that can't find the net.
The Los Angeles Kings visit the New York Rangers at 7 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden. My Kings vs Rangers prediction backs New York, who are 6-0-0 at home and have outscored visitors 29-10 there.
Los Angeles have been held to one goal in five of their nine games, which is a tough way to arrive in a building where the Rangers have won every night. The real worry is a Rangers crease that has given up 22 goals in the last five games, but the Kings don't have the attack to punish it.
Alexis Lafrenière leads New York with nine goals and has scored in each of the last two games. Los Angeles kill only 65.5% of their penalties, and Lafrenière already has two power-play goals.
Adam Fox runs the Rangers from the back, with 16 assists in 13 games and a point in eight of his last 10. A home side holding the puck gives him plenty of touches, and he only needs one.
Key Stats and Trends
- Los Angeles score 2.33 goals per game and convert just 14.8% of their power plays.
- New York have scored first in eight of their 13 games.
- Lafrenière has found the net in six of his 13 games.
- Fox had four assists in Thursday's 5-4 loss in Toronto.
Kings Form
Los Angeles are 2-5-2 with a minus-11 goal differential, and they're giving up 3.56 goals a game.
Saturday's 3-1 loss in New Jersey was one-sided, with the Devils outshooting them 26-13 and Scott Laughton scoring their only goal. Thursday's 3-2 overtime win on Long Island came from Artemi Panarin's two first-period goals and 41 saves from Darcy Kuemper, before Brandt Clarke won it.
Quinton Byfield has missed two straight games with an upper-body injury, according to CBS Sports, which leaves the top line without its centre if he sits again. Kevin Fiala is still out, removing another top-six scorer. Kuemper (.890) or Anton Forsberg (.894) will start.
Rangers Form
New York are 7-5-1, but the split tells the story. They're perfect at home and 1-5-1 on the road.
Saturday's 7-4 loss in Ottawa got away early, with Drake Batherson scoring twice as the Senators built a 3-0 lead inside 22 minutes. Thursday in Toronto, Lafrenière tied it 4-4 late in the third before Troy Stecher won it with 28 seconds left.
Igor Shesterkin is out for the season with a knee injury, as listed in ESPN's preview, leaving Dylan Garand (.900) as the likely starter. Joonas Korpisalo is also out, so Spencer Martin is the only other option.