Free NHL Picks Today: New York Islanders vs Los Angeles Kings 2/24/23

The Los Angeles Kings (+105) head to take on the New York Islanders (-125) at UBS Arena on Friday. The total is 5.5 (O: -120, U: +100)Los Angeles (32-19-8) is playing on back-to-back days after suffering a 4-3 overtime loss against the Devils yesterday.

The Kings committed four penalties in the game, though they held New Jersey without a power play goal. Anze Kopitar, Sean Durzi, and Viktor Arvidsson scored one apiece for the Kings. Pheonix Copley saved only 28 of 32 shots against (.875%) in the loss.

New York (30-24-7) beat the Jets 2-1 on Wednesday. Simon Holmstrom and Sebastian Aho each scored once for the Islanders. Ilya Sorokin was impressive in the win, making 25 saves (.961%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Kings won both games between the teams last season, including a 5-2 victory in their final meeting in February. Trevor Moore and Matt Roy each had two points (1G 1A) to lead Los Angeles. Noah Dobson led New York with two points (0G 2A). Cal Petersen got the win, saving 26 of 28 shots (.928%).

FACING OFF

Los Angeles is averaging 3.31 goals per game for the season, 11th in the NHL, and they are taking on an Islanders team that is allowing 2.74 goals a game (8th).

Meanwhile, New York has found the net 2.90 times a game on average, 24th in the league, and the Kings are allowing opponents to score 3.36 goals per game (22nd).

The Kings’ 25.89% power play percentage is the second-best in the league, while the Islanders rank 30th with a conversion rate of only 16.09%. In terms of defending power plays, New York has the league’s sixth-ranked PK% at 82.02%, while Los Angeles is 23rd at 75.62%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 63 points this season, Kevin Fiala is the top skater for the Kings. He has 21 goals and 42 assists in 59 games. In the net, Copley (17-4-1) is Los Angeles’ top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.67 GAA and a .904% save percentage.

Jonathan Quick (10-12-4) leads the Kings in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 3.49 and a save percentage of .878%. Brock Nelson leads the Islanders in scoring with 58 points.

He has 26 goals and 32 assists in 61 games. Sorokin (20-17-5) has the best goals against average for New York at 2.39. He has a save percentage of .925%, fourth-best in the league.

HOME AND AWAY

Los Angeles is 15-10-6 away from home this season. New York is 18-10-3 at UBS Arena this season. Meanwhile, the Kings are 3-5 without a day off and 2-5 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Islanders are 3-5 with a rest advantage.