The LOS ANGELES and the WASHINGTON will both be gunning for a victory on 11/30/2017 at 7:05 PM when they meet in a game matchup.
LOS ANGELES vs WASHINGTON
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, November 30, 2017
Where:Â Captial One Arena, Washington, District of Columbia
| ROT | TEAM | PL | OU | ML |
| 1 | LOS ANGELES | 0 (-110) | 5.5 115 -135 |
105 -125 |
| 2 | WASHINGTON |
TV:Â 7 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), NBCSN Washington
LINE: 0
PREDICTION:Â Capitals 4, Kings 2
Oddsmakers currently have the LOS ANGELES listed as 105-moneyline favorites versus the WASHINGTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 5.5.
WASHINGTON — Two teams in midst of mild resurgences will see who gets to extend theirs on Thursday night when the Washington Capitals host the Los Angeles Kings.
OVERTIME
1. Washington’s Braden Holtby will get the nod at home, where he ranks first in save percentage (.927) and third in goals-against average (2.13) among NHL goaltenders with at least 100 such starts since 2010-11.
2. Los Angeles D Drew Doughty has set up four goals during his three-game assist streak and has seven points (one goal, six assists) in his past seven contests.
3. Kuznetsov (team-leading 26 points) has been held off the scoresheet in three of his last four games.
The well-rested Capitals (14-10-1) won their third straight game on Saturday in Toronto, with all three coming since coach Barry Trotz reunited captain Alex Ovechkin with center Nicklas Backstrom on the top line.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (14-10-1):Â T.J. Oshie set up three goals at Toronto on Saturday and has five assists in his last three games as the United States Olympic hero is off to his best start to a season in his career. The 30-year-old scored a goal in both games versus Los Angeles last season after recording five assists in his previous five career meetings. Fellow forward Nicklas Backstrom has set up four goals during his three-game point streak, with his 16 assists this season trailing only Evgeny Kuznetsov for the team lead.
The Kings kicked off a four-game road trip with their second straight win, a 4-1 decision over the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday night.
Captain Anze Kopitar scored twice, including the eventual game-winner, and added an assist. The Kings (14-8-3) scored three goals in a 3 1/2-minute span bridging the second and third periods.
ABOUT THE KINGS (14-8-3):Â Jonathan Quick has rebounded from a disastrous six-start losing skid, answering his .899 save percentage in that span by turning aside 48 of 50 shots in the last two contests. The 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy recipient and two-time Stanley Cup winner has flustered Washington in his career with wins in seven of nine starts while posting a .915 save percentage. Former captain Dustin Brown has scored in back-to-back games to give him 10 goals in 25 games this season, putting him on pace to obliterate his previous totals in the last three campaigns (11, 11, 14).
Kopitar leads the team with 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points. He reached 12 goals in his 25th contest, as opposed to 76 games last season when he finished with 12 goals and 52 points.
“I’m feeling good this year, and maybe that’s the biggest reason,” Kopitar told the Los Angeles Times. “I’m feeling, obviously, confident again. I guess a big part of it is confidence too, and having a good start, myself and the team, so it makes it a lot more fun.”
Jonathan Quick made 23 saves, including phenomenal efforts on Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist in the decisive second period.
“Some goalies are really good goalies, but to make key saves at key times, he’s as good as there is,” Kings coach John Stevens told the Times.
Quick is 11-8-1 with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage this season. Against the Capitals in his career, Quick owns a 7-2-0 mark with a 2.39 GAA and .915 save percentage.
He’ll be tested Thursday night by a Washington team that has scored 12 goals in its last three games.
Since re-joining Backstrom, Ovechkin has five goals — including one on a power play. Backstrom recorded an assist on four of the five, including two on Saturday at Toronto when Ovechkin had a hat trick. The most recent goal marked the 222nd time Backstrom assisted on an Ovechkin goal since Backstrom joined the league in the 2007-08 season
Rounding out the new top line is winger Tom Wilson, known more for his physical play than his scoring.
“Nicky complements (Ovechkin) very well and O complements Nicky very well,” Wilson told the Washington Post. “So, my job is not to mess with that, just to kind of keep it simple and do my thing and create space and create energy.”
Washington is also getting healthier. Forward Tyler Graovac (upper body) played his first NHL game since Oct. 17 against Toronto. Defenseman Christian Djoos practiced Monday and is nearing a return and forward Andre Burakovsky is slated to return in mid-December, meaning the team has some roster choices to make.
“To me, it’s all about competition,” coach Barry Trotz told NBC Sports Washington. “You have to make the decision for the group, not the individual. When it comes to who you’re putting in and out of the lineup, it’s all about the group.”
The Capitals have won three straight home games against the Kings.
Goalie Braden Holtby is 1-1-1 with a 2.33 GAA and .930 save percentage versus the Kings. Ovechkin has five goals and eight assists in 15 games against Los Angeles.
Kopitar has nine goals and five assists in 14 games versus Washington.
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