The Los Angeles Kings (45-23-10) travel to meet the Vegas Golden Knights (48-22-8) Thursday. Puck drop from T-Mobile Arena is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Kings vs. Golden Knights odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Kings suffered a 3-1 loss against the Edmonton Oilers at home Tuesday. Los Angeles has 100 points, 3 points behind Edmonton for 2nd place in the Pacific Division, and 4 points back of VGK for 1st place. Both L.A. and Vegas have played 78 games, while Edmonton has played 79.
The Golden Knights won the 1st meeting of the regular season Oct. 11 by a 4-3 count in Los Angeles. The Kings have won the past 2 meetings, including the first battle at T-Mobile Arena Jan. 7. L.A. routed Vegas 5-1 as the total pushed at most shops.
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Kings at Golden Knights odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:15 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Kings +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Golden Knights -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Kings +1.5 (-250) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+200)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Kings at Golden Knights projected goalies
Joonas Korpisalo (16-13-4, 2.84 GAA, .917 SV%) vs. Laurent Brossoit (4-0-3, 2.50 GAA, .918 SV%)
Korpisalo allowed just a single goal on 25 shots in a 4-1 win at Vancouver last time out, snapping a 2-game losing skid.
The losses in Edmonton last Thursday, and in Calgary last Tuesday, weren’t his fault, however, and he has allowed 2 or fewer goals in each of his 8 starts since being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets at the NHL trade deadline in early March.
Brossoit allowed 3 goals on 33 shots last time out in Minnesota, and he has picked up consecutive wins against the Wild in the home-and-home series to kick off the month of April.
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Kings at Golden Knights picks and predictions
Prediction
Golden Knights 3, Kings 2
Moneyline
The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-120) are a solid value on home ice in this crucial Pacific Division matchup.
The Kings (+100) want this win, and need it to have a shot at the Pacific Division. The margin between winning the division and finishing 1st, ending up 2nd and earning home-ice advantage in the first round, or finishing 3rd is very tight. This game will go a long way, and VGK will take a big step toward nailing down the division title.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Kings +1.5 (-250) will cost you 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s just too much if you need a little insurance. If you like Los Angeles, just play it straight up as short ‘dogs on the road. I don’t, however.
PASS.
Over/Under
UNDER 6 (-110) is the play in this huge game.
The Under is 4-0 in the past 4 games overall for the Kings, while cashing in 4 straight on the road, and 4 in a row against winning teams, too.
For VGK, the Under is 3-1-1 in the past 5 games against winning teams, while going 4-1-1 in the past 6 outings in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 (4 games in 6 days) situation.
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