NHL Picks: Kings will extend winning streak to 8 against Blackhawks – CBSSports.com
Welcome to the NHL Daily Picks where hockey writers Adam Gretz and Chris Peters make their selections for all of the league’s games.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network
The Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks have been the two most successful teams in the NHL over the past six years, combining to win five Stanley Cups over that stretch, while the two teams faced off in the Western Conference Final in two of the past three years.
They meet for the first time during the 2015-16 season on Monday night in Chicago.
The Kings are coming in as one of the hottest teams in the NHL in recent weeks having won seven games in a row after starting the season 0-3. What’s most impressive about that run right now is that they have been able to do it with minimal offensive production from their two most talented players up front, Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik. The pair has combined for just four goals and two assists this season.
Helping to pick up the slack have been Tyler Toffoli and Jeff Carter.
Carter has been a tear for the Kings over the past two weeks with eight points in his past five games, while Toffoli enters play on Monday with a league-leading nine goals on the season. He has eight in the past seven games alone.
While the Kings are coming into Monday’s game on a roll, the Blackhawks are still trying to put everything together following their offseason roster overhaul. Their 6-5-0 record is their worst through 11 games since the 2007-08 season, while their 24 goals at this point is their lowest total since they scored just 18 through the first 11 games in 2002-03. Sometimes we make too big of a deal about early season slumps and scoring droughts, and eventually the Blackhawks are going to start scoring like the team we’ve seen in the past. They’re too talented not to. But when it comes to Monday’s game the Kings are simply playing too good right now and are going to be a difficult team to slow down. Pick: Kings 3, Blackhawks 2
The rest of Monday’s picks
Dallas Stars 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 2
Vancouver Canucks 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2
Los Angeles Kings forward Tyler Toffoli leads the NHL in goals entering play on Monday. (USATSI)
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