The Vegas Golden Knights are the best team in the Western Conference. Let that fact sink in for a second and now consider that this is an expansion team. The “New Kids on the Block” are picking off teams “Step by Step” and will hope to have the “The Right Stuff” when they take on the Los Angeles Kings tonight at Staples Center. The Knights (no relation to Jordan or Jonathan) opened as +140 road dogs in Hollywood.
- The total has gone UNDER in eight of the Kings’ last 10 games at home.
- The Kings are 5-0 SU in their last five games as home favorites.
- The Golden Knights are 6-1 SU in their last seven games after winning as an underdog.
The Kings will be desperate to play at home after a rough stretch recently in which they went 2-4 SU in six games. Los Angeles is 5-0 SU in its last five home games and 11-7 SU at Staples Center this season. But in their only matchup vs the Knights, the Kings got tripped 4-2 at T-Mobile Arena in mid-November and Los Angeles needs a bounce-back win vs their new division rival. If bettors are considering the Kings tonight, just know they’re 1-5 SU in their last six games vs divisional opponents.
The Knights, on the other hand, will be the barometer of success for any expansion team in professional sports. At 50 points and 24-11 SU, even the most optimistic of fans and supporters could not have foreseen this type of outcome. And it’s not just home cooking for Vegas. The Knights are 11-8 SU on the road this season and are the third-most profitable road team in the NHL. They’ll look to win their fourth straight on the road and would make an excellent wager on their moneyline.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
If you're backing the visiting Vegas Golden Knights in this one, the Golden Knights were listed earlier today as underdogs of +136 at most sportsbooks, including Sportsbook. Those OVER/UNDER total betting saw the number open in the area of 5.5, depending on the book.
Prediction-scoring formulas run on this game pick a potential 4-1.4 result in favor of the Golden Knights. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
Vegas Golden Knights vs Los Angeles Kings Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Los Angeles will face the 24-9-2 Golden Knights. In totals betting, the Kings are 15-20-2 in OVER/UNDER betting so far this season while the Vegas Golden Knights are 21-12-2. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Los Angeles vs Vegas injuries news.
The OddsShark NHL Power Rankings have the Kings at No. 26 and the Golden Knights at No. 11 heading into this contest.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Los Angeles Kings' No. 14-ranked offense (2.95 goals per game) against a Vegas Golden Knights defense that ranks No. 14 at 2.89 goals per game allowed. The Kings power play has clicked at a 15.45% rate while the Golden Knights have a 79.28% rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Vegas won its last outing, a 4-1 result against the Ducks on December 27. Bettors who backed the Golden Knights at +116 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (5) sent UNDER bettors to the payout window.
Los Angeles was a 2-0 loser in its last match on the road against the Sharks. They lost as -110 underdogs, while the total score of 2 made Sportsbooks of UNDER bettors.
- Vegas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
- Vegas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Vegas's last 6 games
- Vegas is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games on the road
- Los Angeles is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
- Los Angeles is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games
- Los Angeles is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Los Angeles's last 21 games
Next Betting Matchups
Vegas home to Toronto, Sunday, December 31
Los Angeles at Vancouver, Saturday, December 30
