The Los Angeles Kings welcome in the Anaheim Ducks tonight in Game 6 of their Second Round NHL Playoffs series. The game is scheduled for a 9:30 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on the NBC Sports Network. Currently the odds for the game have the Kings favored at home.
The Kings are looking to force a Game 7 on the ice tonight. Anaheim hopes to clinch a spot in the Western Conference Finals against the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, who knocked out the Minnesota Wild last night in overtime as Patrick Kane got another game-winner.
This freeway series now has the Los Angeles Kings face their fifth elimination game of the playoffs. Remember, the Kings became the fourth team ever to come back from an 0-3 hole to win a playoff series in the opening round. Now their backs are against the wall again, but they'll be ready to go tonight. With a team full of veterans who have won the Cup and been on teams facing elimination, the Kings won't panic. The Kings never faced an elimination game during their 16-4 run to their only Stanley Cup title back in 2012. They're also the best defensive team in hockey, which keeps them in every game. Jonathan Quick is the best goalie in hockey and needs to play well tonight.
An Anaheim win tonight would put the Ducks in the conference finals for the first time since the 2007 playoffs. Anaheim won the Cup that year and has hopes of doing the same thing again in 2014. Anaheim was able to pick up a pair of wins inside the Staples Center earlier in this series, so they know they can beat Los Angeles on their home ice.
The past two playoffs, Los Angeles has dug themselves out of 0-2 holes in the opening round. They've won five elimination games during those years, falling to Chicago in last year's conference finals.
Anaheim rookie John Gibson has looked very good in net for the Ducks, taking over the spot from Frederik Anderson and Jonah Hiller, who have both battled injuries and inconsistencies. Gibson has made the Kings have problems offensively in his two games, stopping 67 of 70 shots. In the opening round Anaheim clinched their series over Dallas on the road in Game 6.
The Kings will look to Marian Gaborik to light the lamp tonight. He has an NHL-best eight goals this playoffs, which is double more than any other player on the Kings. LA has scored 11 goals in five games this series, including just five in the last three. They're going to need to score tonight.
We expect Los Angeles to get the victory tonight. The Kings have been in this position before and we like them to win tonight.
Free Pick: Los Angeles 3, Anaheim 2
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