Free NHL Picks Today: Los Angeles Kings vs Winnipeg Jets 10/27/22

The Los Angeles Kings (4-4-0) play host to the Winnipeg Jets (3-3-0) at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday. Winnipeg is playing their first of four games on the road coming off a 4-0 win over the Blues on Monday. Four players found the net for the Jets. Josh Morrissey had two assists to lead the team in scoring. Connor Hellebuyck earned his first shutout of the season with an impressive 25 saves.

Los Angeles beat the Lightning 4-2 on Tuesday. Four players found the net for the Kings. Gabriel Vilardi scored and provided an assist to lead the team in scoring. Jonathan Quick saved 23 of 25 shots.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Jets won two of the three games between the teams last season, although the Kings were 3-2 victors in their final meeting in April. Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe each had two points (1G 1A) to lead Los Angeles. Adam Lowry and Nikolaj Ehlers were on the scoresheet for Winnipeg. Cal Petersen got the win, saving 25 of 27 shots (.925%).

FACING OFF

Winnipeg is averaging 2.67 goals per game so far this season, 27th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Kings team that is allowing 4.12 goals a game (27th). Meanwhile, Los Angeles has found the net 3.38 times a game on average, 11th in the league, and the Jets are allowing opponents to score 2.83 goals per game (8th).

Look for multiple power play opportunities for the Jets, as the Kings have been penalized 5.38 times a game, second-most in the NHL, for an average of 11.12 minutes (10th-highest). The visitors are averaging 3.50 penalties (6th-fewest in the league) and 7.50 penalty minutes a game (5th-fewest).

The Kings’ 16.22% power play percentage ranks 20th in the league, while the Jets are 26th with a conversion rate of 10.53%. In terms of defending power plays, Los Angeles has the league’s 15th-ranked PK% at 80.56%, while Winnipeg is 27th at 73.33%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With five points each this season, Neal Pionk (3G 2A) and Cole Perfetti (2G 3A) are the top skaters for the Jets. In the net, Hellebuyck (3-2-0) is Winnipeg’s top goaltender. He has a 2.20 GAA and a .929% save percentage.

Vilardi leads the Kings in scoring with nine points. He has five goals (5th) and four assists. Quick (2-3-0) has the best goals against average for Los Angeles at 3.59. He has a save percentage of .893%.