Free NHL Picks Today: Los Angeles Kings vs Arizona Coyotes 12/1/22

The Arizona Coyotes (7-10-3) head to take on the Los Angeles Kings (12-9-4) at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday. Arizona is coming off a 4-3 loss against the Wild on Sunday. The Coyotes committed five penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Nick Schmaltz, J.J. Moser, and Lawson Crouse each scored once for the Coyotes. Matias Maccelli had two assists to lead the team in scoring.

Connor Ingram saved only 25 of 29 shots against (.862%) in the loss. Los Angeles fell 9-8 (OT) to the Kraken on Tuesday. Gabriel Vilardi was the leading goal scorer for the Kings, netting twice. Kevin Fiala had four assists to lead the team in scoring. Jonathan Quick saved only nine of 14 shots (.642%) after starting in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Kings won two of the three games between the teams last season, including a 3-2 victory in their final meeting in February. Viktor Arvidsson (2G 0A) and Trevor Moore (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Los Angeles. Clayton Keller and Barrett Hayton were on the scoresheet for Arizona. Cal Petersen got the win despite saving only 17 of 19 shots (.894%).

FACING OFF

Arizona is averaging 2.70 goals per game for the season, 27th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Kings team that is allowing 3.60 goals a game (28th). Meanwhile, Los Angeles has found the net 3.36 times a game on average, 10th in the league, and the Coyotes are allowing opponents to score 3.40 goals per game (21st).

Arizona averages fewer shots a game (24.3) than any other team in the league, though the team’s 11.1% shooting percentage ranks sixth. Los Angeles has proven to be the league’s worst shot-stopping team, ranking No. 32 with a team save percentage of .882%.Power play opportunities ought to be plentiful for the Kings, as the Coyotes are averaging 5.35 penalties per game, most in the NHL.

The visitors’ 12.25 penalty minutes a game ranks fourth-highest. The home team has been penalized 3.84 times a game (22nd) for an average of 7.92 minutes (26th).

The Kings’ 23.60% power play percentage ranks 12th in the league, while the Coyotes are 14th with a conversion rate of 23.19%. In terms of defending power plays, Arizona has the league’s 17th-ranked PK% at 79.76%, while Los Angeles is 27th at 72.29%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 21 points this season, Keller is the top skater for the Coyotes. He has seven goals and 14 assists in 20 games. In the net, Karel Vejmelka (6-5-2) is Arizona’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.97 GAA and a .916% save percentage.Fiala leads the Kings in scoring with 26 points.

He has seven goals and 19 assists. Quick (7-6-2) has the best goals against average for Los Angeles at 3.07. He has a save percentage of .897%.