NHL Betting Picks: Phoenix Coyotes at Los Angeles Kings 10:35 EST

Jim Murphy - February 18th, 2008 .

PHOENIX COYOTES +100 (2.00) PINNACLE OVER LOS ANGELES KINGS (WIN)

Coyotes co-owner Wayne Gretzky was not only a pretty fair hockey player in his own right, but he’s done a decent job with his team since taking over behind the bench. The Coyotes W/L record in the #99 era hasn’t been much to write home about, but with the team slashing payroll and rebuilding with younger players he hasn’t had much to work with. This season, however, they’re treading water at just above .500 and have played tough most nights thanks to better defensive intensity and solid goaltending from Ilya Bryzgalov. They’ve also been one of the rare teams that seems to play better on the road, where they have a better record than at home.

This is a quick rematch from Saturday night where Phoenix prevailed 4-3 in Arizona, and now the series moves to Southern California. Maybe it’s a case where the Coyotes’ players figure it’s a good career move to beat one of their boss’s old teams, but for whatever reason Phoenix has owned the Kings of late winning 5 straight and 7 of 8 and 14 of 21 head to head. Phoenix has also done a better job taking care of business against divisional rivals than LA, where they’re 14-7 against Pacific Division teams as opposed to the Kings’ lackluster 8-14 divisional mark.

Coyotes are really the better team of the two and have been a solidly profitable choice on the road all year (+14.2 units) while the Kings have been money burners at home (-8.1 units). With Phoenix an attractively priced +100 at Pinnacle we’ll take them to continue their mastery over Los Angeles as they fight for a playoff spot. Besides, both Gretz and recently returned assistant Rick Tocchet are fellow gambling men so hopefully they won’t let us down here…

PHOENIX COYOTES +100 OVER LOS ANGELES KINGS (PINNACLE)

Pick: PHOENIX COYOTES +100

Scores: PHOENIX COYOTES 4 LOS ANGELES KINGS 0

Result: WIN

Odds: 2 (+100)

Sportsbook: PinnacleSports.com (For US visitors check out Bookmaker.com for latest odds)

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