Los Angeles Kings vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction: Expect a productive match

Prediction for the NHL Los Angeles Kings vs Columbus Blue Jackets match, which will take place on March 17. Check the team conditions and choose several betting options.

Los Angeles is the first of three California teams in the NHL to emerge from the rebuilding crisis in the race for the top spots. It happened last season when the Kings finally made the playoffs, and now they intend to do even better. Black and White enjoyed a decent regular season and even better play in the postseason. In the last seven meetings, they had six wins, and once lost to Nashville by shootout - 1:2. This surge allowed Los Angeles to climb to third place in the Western Conference standings.

Columbus is a hopeless NHL outsider who dreams of forgetting about the current season as soon as possible. The team started to show terrible results from the beginning of the regular season, after which they only had short spurts of activity. However, they still lack stability in the distance. In the last five meetings, the Jackets suffered four losses, and the only victory they got the day before, beating away San Jose in overtime - 5:6. Despite this local success, Columbus remains in last place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Los Angeles and Columbus are rivals at a very different level. This most clearly reflects the current standings, as the Kings are in the top group in the West, and the Jackets are in last place in the East. This information alone is enough to consider them the favorites, as they are in great shape. They scored 15 of 16 points in their last eight home games, and now they'll have to take on the league's top underdog. As a result, we'd have to bet on L.A. to win with a handicap (-1.5).

We have every right to expect a lot of scoring activity in the upcoming game. As noted, Los Angeles is in great form right now, scoring goals against nearly every opponent. Columbus has been having fun of late, as well. Columbus has no chance to make the playoffs and thus can play without tournament motivation. In the last six meetings with the Jackets, there were 48 goals scored (8.00 on average per game), so even now, the total score over 6.5 pucks seems to be the best option for the prediction, and separately we should look at the bet on the total score over 0.5 points of Phillip Danault.