Free NHL Picks Today: Vancouver Canucks vs Los Angeles Kings 11/18/22

The Los Angeles Kings (11-7-1) travel to take on the Vancouver Canucks (5-9-3) at Rogers Arena on Friday.Los Angeles is coming off a 3-1 win over the Oilers on Wednesday. Trevor Moore scored the lone goals, netting a hat trick for the Kings. Cal Petersen had a great performance with 22 saves (.956%) in the win.Vancouver beat the Sabres 5-4 on Tuesday. Five players found the net for the Canucks. Bo Horvat scored and provided two assists to lead the team in scoring. Spencer Martin stopped only 28 of 32 shots (.875%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Canucks won two of the three games between the teams last season, including a 3-2 (OT) victory in their final meeting in April. Brock Boeser (2G 0A) and Elias Pettersson (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Vancouver. Gabriel Vilardi and Adrian Kempe were on the scoresheet for Los Angeles. Martin got the win, saving 33 of 35 shots (.942%).

FACING OFF

Los Angeles is averaging 3.32 goals per game for the season, 13th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Canucks team that is allowing 4.06 goals a game (30th). Meanwhile, Vancouver has found the net 3.41 times a game on average, 10th in the league, and the Kings are allowing opponents to score 3.37 goals per game (23rd).

The Canucks’ 29.51% power play percentage is the fifth-best in the league, while the Kings rank 22nd with a conversion rate of 19.48%. While efficient on the power play, Vancouver has been less successful at penalty killing, as the hosts possess the league’s lowest PK% at 63.79%. Los Angeles’ 75.00% ranks 26th in the NHL.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 18 points this season, Kevin Fiala is the top skater for the Kings. He has six goals and 12 assists in 19 games. In the net, Jonathan Quick (6-5-1) is Los Angeles’ top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.09 GAA and a .895% save percentage.

Horvat and Pettersson lead the Canucks in scoring with 20 points apiece. Horvat has 14 goals (2nd) and six assists in 17 games, while Pettersson has seven goals and 13 assists in 17 games. Martin (4-1-1) has the best goals against average for Vancouver at 3.49. He has a save percentage of .898%.

Thatcher Demko (1-8-2) has played the most games in net for the Canucks this season. He has a 4.02 GAA and a .874% save percentage.