Chicago Blackhawks vs Los Angeles Kings: Kings pick up two points in battle against the West's outsider

Prediction for the NHL Chicago Blackhawks vs Los Angeles Kings match, which will take place on April 13. Check the team conditions and choose several betting options.

Chicago is in another year as the league's underdog. It would seem that a team with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Taves should not be able to avoid the cup battles every year, but in fact that's exactly what's happening. Already during the first half of the regular season the Hawks would have no cup ambitions, but then they fell apart. The Red and Black had a weak March-April stretch, where they suffered seven straight losses. This poor stretch has now left Chicago in 14th place in the Western Conference standings.

The Californian trio have been among the NHL underdogs for the past few years, but in the first half of the current regular season Anaheim, San Jose and Los Angeles suddenly found themselves among the playoff contenders. Slowly, the Sharks and Ducks lost ground, but the Kings were doing their best to find a place in the playoffs. They sit in the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings.

Los Angeles is the last of the California clubs to remain in contention for a playoff spot, but is currently in poor form, having lost their last three games in a row. In their upcoming clash, the Kings will face Chicago, who have lost their previous seven games in a row. Todd McLellan's team has to take advantage of that and pick up two points against the Western Conference underdog, so it's worth betting on LA to win for 1.688.

We should not expect a high level of goal-scoring activity in this upcoming encounter. It's much more important for Los Angeles to pick up two points against an outsider with a minimum of energy and emotion than to show some goal-rich hockey, and Chicago has needed nothing at all in a long time. Therefore, we suggest betting on a total under 5.5 for 2.09.

Adrian Kempe is a forward who is playing his sixth consecutive season for Los Angeles, but this regular season is shaping up to be his best career. He's already scored 48 points (32 goals + 16 assists) in 71 games played, 11 points more than his previous record. The 25-year-old hockey player is obviously in top form, so it may be worth looking at a bet on Adrian Kempe Total Over 0.5 for 1.66.

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