NHL – FREE PLAY: Kings (37) vs. Blackhawks (38)

I’m willing to back the Chicago Blackhawks as a home underdog at this very appealing price as they take on the Los Angeles Kings. I would have preferred Spencer Knight being in net for Chicago but I’ll still take my chances betting on them here with Arvid Soderblom getting the start in goal. Los Angeles has been a frequent ‘bet against’ team for me this season and the Kings have gotten off to a sluggish and inconsistent start. They lost in Nashville 5-4 in a shootout last night and now must play on the second night of B2B games here against a rested Chicago squad. Chicago has the better form entering this game and the better stats at both ends of the ice. Chicago is scoring more goals per game than Los Angeles and giving up fewer goals per game than them as well. Chicago’s improvement defensively as a team has been the most noticeable element of their early season success. We know Chicago has Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and an abundance of young and skilled talent that can score goals but there has been a much greater attention to detail defensively this season for the Blackhawks and it has helped them to earning this solid 4-2-2 start to the season. Chicago defeated LA in two of the three meetings between these teams last season and I think the Blackhawks are a live underdog in this spot to earn another win against the Kings.