Free NHL Picks Today: Los Angeles Kings vs Columbus Blue Jackets 3/16/23

The Los Angeles Kings (39-20-9) welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets (21-38-7) at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday. Columbus is coming off a high-scoring 6-5 overtime win over the Sharks on Tuesday, ending a streak of four straight defeats.

The Blue Jackets conceded a power play goal while failing to take advantage of their own power play opportunities. Johnny Gaudreau and Boone Jenner both scored twice for the Blue Jackets. Daniil Tarasov allowed five goals on 32 shots against (.843%) in the win.

Los Angeles beat the Islanders 5-2 on Tuesday. Five players found the net for the Kings. Vladislav Gavrikov had two assists to lead the team in scoring. Joonas Korpisalo was impressive in the win, making 26 saves (.928%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Blue Jackets won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 6-5 (OT) victory in December. Jack Roslovic led Columbus with four points (2G 2A). Anze Kopitar led Los Angeles with two goals. Elvis Merzlikins got the win despite allowing five goals on 38 shots (.868%).

FACING OFF

Columbus is averaging 2.64 goals per game for the season, 29th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Kings team that is allowing 3.25 goals a game (19th). Meanwhile, Los Angeles has found the net 3.34 times a game on average, 11th in the league, and the Blue Jackets are allowing opponents to score 3.76 goals per game (29th).

The Kings’ 24.56% power play percentage is the fifth-best in the league, while the Blue Jackets rank 27th with a conversion rate of 17.92%. In terms of defending power plays, Columbus has the league’s 22nd-ranked PK% at 76.38%, while Los Angeles is 23rd at 76.09%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 62 points this season, Gaudreau is the top skater for the Blue Jackets. He has 17 goals and 45 assists in 64 games. In the net, Korpisalo (14-11-3) is Columbus’ top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.05 GAA and a .913% save percentage. Merzlikins (7-17-2) leads the Blue Jackets in games played in goal.

He has a GAA of 4.10 and a save percentage of .880%. Kevin Fiala and Kopitar lead the Kings in scoring with 68 and 62 points, respectively. Fiala has 22 goals and 46 assists in 66 games, while Kopitar has 25 goals and 37 assists in 68 games.

Pheonix Copley (20-4-3) has the best goals against average for Los Angeles at 2.69. He has a save percentage of .902%. Jonathan Quick (15-13-4) has played the most games in net for the Kings this season. He has a 3.34 GAA and a .883% save percentage.