When you think of the elite teams in the NHL, the Los Angeles Kings usually don’t come to mind but they should. Todd McLellan has his team surging and they are now just 1 point back of the Vegas Golden Knights for the top spot in the Pacific. The Kings have won 7 of their last 8 and will host the Vancouver Canucks tonight. Vancouver, who has nothing to play for, had won a rare 5 straight but came back to reality Thursday, falling to the lowly Arizona Coyotes, 3-2. LA lost their only meeting with Vancouver this year back in November but that was in Vancouver and this is a different team than it was then. The Kings are 8-1 in their last 9 home games and should take care of business tonight against a Canucks team that is just 4-12 in their last 16 on the road.
TODAY’S PICK: LOS ANGELES KINGS