Los Angeles Kings vs Seattle Kraken

Los Angeles clinched home ice in the first round of the playoffs with a 5-0 win over Edmonton on Monday night, the seventh win in eight games for the Kings. Adrian Kempe had a goal and two assists and Darcy Kuemper stopped all 16 shots he faced. The Kings likely will rest some starters in this back-to-back spot and David Rittich is expected in net. Seattle has won the past two meetings, including 2-1 on April 7. Joey Daccord had 28 saves in that game and he is the expected starter tonight. The Kraken have won four of six, including 4-3 in a shootout against St. Louis on Saturday. Seattle also has won four of five against Pacific Division foes. The Kraken have allowed more than three goals just once in seven games. Take the Kraken.

Los Angeles has won six of eight and the Kings have allowed only six goals their past six games, including a 5-1 victory over Vancouver on Thursday. Alex Turcotte had two goals and an assist to back Darcy Kuemper, who stopped 20 shots against the Canucks. Kuemper is 13-3-5 with a sparkling 2.06 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage with two shutouts this season. The Kings have won four of the past five meetings, including 2-1 on Nov. 23. The Kraken have totaled only seven goals the past five meetings. Seattle has lost five in a row against teams that scored at least five goals their previous game and the Kraken are 1-7 versus teams that allowed two or fewer goals their previous game. The Kraken have lost six of eight and just completed a five-game trip in an eight-day span. Take the Kings.

Seattle is playing great on a 5-1 run after a 3-0 shutout of Nashville. The defense is 10th in the NHL in goals allowed (2.75 per game) and ninth in save percentage. Los Angeles has dropped four of six after losing at home to Buffalo, 1-0. The offense is 16th in goals scored and shooting percentage with one of the worst power plays (27th) in the league, while the defense is 18th in save percentage (.897). Play Seattle. 

Seattle has a winning road record and is playing better, winning three of four while scoring 12 goals. The defense is eighth in the NHL in goals allowed (2.82 per game) and ninth in save percentage (.910). Seattle is 8-4 on the road versus teams that outscore their opponents by 0.3+ goals per game, and 8-0 away from home off a win against a divisional opponent. Los Angeles has lost three in a row netting just six goals. The offense has slipped to 17th in goals scored and 25th in shooting percentage. The Kings are 6-11 off a road loss, plus 12-17 when playing their fourth game in seven days. Play Seattle.