Once Upon A Time In Las Vegas – Wildcard Edition
New Jersey Devils (26-12-3) vs. Los Angeles Kings (25-14-6)
The 2022-23 NHL season goes on with a 14-game Saturday card and brings this interconference clash from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California when the New Jersey Devils take on the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Los Angeles enters the contest as a slight favorite on the moneyline (-120) with the total set at 6.5. These teams met in New Jersey in January where the Kings earned a 3-2 victory, winning on the moneyline (-140) as well. The Kings have won three straight meetings between the clubs.
The New Jersey Devils found themselves trailing 3-1 with about 22 minutes left to go, but scored four unanswered goals to earn a 5-3 victory over Carolina. The victory was the fourth straight for the Devils, who are in the midst of a five-game road trip. The Devils take on Anaheim on Friday, the second in the five-game trip, but that contest was not included in this analysis.
“I knew the defense was flat-footed then and I just kind of drove it wide,” said Dawson Mercer, who had his first NHL multigoal game. “Anytime when that goalie freezes, you want to take it across. I was pretty happy with that goal for sure.”
“You always try to improve the way you start a game.”#NJDevils | @PlayUp_US https://t.co/18tCzOgY0S
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevil s) January 13, 2023
Mercer scored two goals in the victory, including the go-ahead tally just before the nine-minute mark of the third. Jack Hughes was kept off the scoresheet, ending a five-game point streak that saw Hughes score 10 points. New Jersey has been a solid team offensively, sixth in scoring (3.44), but have also been great in their own end, fourth in goals allowed (2.63).