LA Kings vs Winnipeg Jets projected lineups, odds, notes

The LA Kings are back at it on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets after thrashing the Calgary Flames on Monday.

Projected Lineups

LA Kings (41-20-10)

Per Hockey Royalt’s Russell Morgan, here’s how the Kings skated during Friday’s practice:

Byfield – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Iafallo – Lizotte – Vilardi
Grundstrom – Kupari – MacEwen

Extras: Anderson-Dolan, Kaliyev, Fiala (red)

Anderson – Doughty
Gavrikov – Roy
Edler – Walker

Extras: Durzi, Spence

Winnipeg Jets (41-29-3)

The Jets knocked off the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday; here’s how they lined up:

#NHLJets line rushes and D pairs:

Connor-Dubois-Niederreiter
Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Namestnikov-Lowry-Appleton
Barron-Stenlund-Maenalanen
Jonsson Fjallby-Gustafsson-Kuhlman

Morrissey-DeMelo
Dillon-Pionk
Capobianco-Schmidt
Stanley-Samberg

Hellebucyk
Rittich

— Ken Wiebe (@WiebesWorld) March 23, 2023

5-on-5

Here’s how the two teams match up at 5-on-5 per Natural Stat Trick

Despite playing sub-.500 hockey over the past 25 games, Winnipeg’s underlying metrics haven’t been much different than their overall solid numbers at 5-on-5 for the season. They shot under 7% during that time. If they get some better puck luck, along with the great goaltending they generally get from Connor Hellebuyck, the Jets present a tough matchup.

Special Teams

While Kevin Fiala isn’t likely to return on Saturday, the LA Kings could see Gabriel Vilardi and Sean Durzi back in the lineup, which should help a power play that has clicked at only 17.1% over the past month.

Betting Odds

Let’s look at the odds, courtesy of Betstamp.

*Note: the odds below are for sports books offered in New York. Refer to available sports books specific to your state.

**Odds as of 8 am ET/5 am PT may have changed since the writing of this article.

The Kings are slight favorites on Saturday, with multiple books offering -125. FanDuel has the visiting Jets at +112. The total on the game is six at most spots, with 6.5 being offered at FanDuel. The best value on the Over is at WynnBet, which has the Over-six at -115. The Under-six at BetRivers is the best available at even money.

On the surface, the Kings are red hot, while Winnipeg hasn’t quite been hitting their stride. But the 5-on-5 numbers are a bit closer than you’d think over the past ten games. That, plus the always-tough Connor Hellebuyck, makes this one a pass for me.

News & Notes

• Sean Durzi and Gabriel Vilardi returned to practice in regular jerseys on Friday, while Kevin Fiala was back on the ice but in a non-contact jersey.
• Carl Grundstrom is one of the hotter LA Kings lately, scoring four goals and adding an assist in his last three games. Grundstrom leads the Kings in primary points per 60 minutes on the season for players with at least ten games played.
• Another unexpected source of offense has come from the blue line the last two games, as Alex Edler has picked up a goal and an assist in his previous two games.
• Quinton Byfield has continued his strong play with two more assists against Calgary. He is now tied with Kevin Fiala in primary assists per 60 minutes this season.
• Pheonix Copley started Monday against Calgary, which likely means Joonas Korpisalo gets the nod Saturday to continue the goalie rotation.
• Winnipeg has settled into a battle for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. They’re currently five points up on the Nashville Predators (who have three games in hand on Winnipeg) and are only one point back of Seattle for the top Wild Card spot.
• The last time these two teams met, at the end of February, the Kings won in a thrilling game, 6-5, in a shootout after twice erasing two-goal deficits.
• Pierre-Luc Dubois was absent from the previous meeting due to an injury. Though he has returned, he has just two assists in his five games since.
• The Kings head into the weekend four points behind Vegas for the top spot in the Pacific Division with one game in hand. On Sunday, LA will host St. Louis to end their lengthy home stand, while Vegas plays just once over the weekend, a big divisional matchup with the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.