NHL betting preview (Feb. 28): Kings vs Stars odds
Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Friday’s matchup between the Los Angeles Kings and Dallas Stars.
Kings vs. Stars Odds
- Los Angeles Kings Moneyline: +115
- Dallas Stars Moneyline: -135
- Puck Line: Kings +1.5 (-225), Stars -1.5 (+185)
- Game Total: 5.5 (Over -102, Under -118)
Game odds via Sports Interaction.
Handicapping the Kings (31-25 SU, 27-29 ATS, 22-31-3 O/U)
The Kings, coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Canucks on Wednesday, begin a three-game Central Division road trip in Dallas on Friday. They’ll face the Blues in St. Louis on Saturday before wrapping up the trip in Chicago on Monday.
Statistically, the Kings match up well against the Stars. According to Evolving Hockey, Los Angeles ranks second in expected goals percentage, fifth in shot attempt percentage, and third in goal share at five-on-five. However, they’ve struggled on the road, going 12-14-5 this season and 3-6-1 as visitors since Jan. 1.
From a betting standpoint, the Kings have been slightly profitable on the moneyline overall, but not on the road. Only six teams have been less profitable away from home, and Los Angeles has won just six of 17 games as road underdogs, resulting in a loss of nearly eight units for bettors placing one-unit wagers on each game.
Goaltender Darcy Kuemper is a reason to consider the Kings, as he’s likely to start. Kuemper is 8-5-5 on the road, ranking 13th in goals saved above expected and 10th in save percentage. However, the Kings have lost their last five trips to Dallas.
Handicapping the Stars (37-21 SU, 27-31 ATS, 22-30-6 O/U)
The Stars look to rebound from a loss to Columbus earlier this week. With two days off since that game, they hold a one-day rest advantage over the Kings. Home teams with an extra day of rest have won 58.9% of games this season, making this a notable factor.
Dallas ranks sixth in expected goals percentage, seventh in shot attempt percentage, and sixth in goal share at five-on-five. The Stars boast the league’s best penalty kill and the third-best power play since Jan. 1 (30.9%), while the Kings rank third-worst on the power play in that span.
The Stars have been one of the 10 most profitable home teams this season with a 20-7-1 record, winning 19 of 26 games as home favorites (+2.71 units). They’ve won six of the last eight meetings against Los Angeles since December 2021.
Jake Oettinger ranks 14th in goals saved above expected, just behind Kuemper, but Dallas holds the offensive edge. The Stars rank fifth in goals and third in expected goals per 60 minutes, while the Kings rank 17th and 16th, respectively.
Best bet for Kings vs. Stars
- Thomas Harley Over 0.5 Points (+105) at Sports Interaction
Thomas Harley (10-21–31) has emerged as the Stars’ top defenseman since Miro Heiskanen’s injury on Jan. 28, tallying three goals and five assists in nine games. He’s registered a point in six of those nine games while playing on the top pairing and top power play unit.
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