On Monday, February 24th, the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings face off at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. Here’s a detailed preview and prediction for this NHL matchup.
Vegas Golden Knights Preview
The Vegas Golden Knights (34-17-6, 33-24 ATS) recently broke out of their longest losing streak of the season, rebounding from four consecutive defeats with three straight wins over New Jersey, Boston, and Vancouver. In that stretch, they conceded just four goals. Currently leading the Pacific Division with 74 points, they hold a slim two-point advantage over the Edmonton Oilers.
Jack Eichel leads the team offensively with 69 points (19 goals, 50 assists), followed by Mark Stone with 49 points (14 goals, 35 assists). Shea Theodore has also contributed significantly with 48 points (7 goals, 41 assists).
Goaltender Adin Hill (21-10-4) is expected to start between the pipes. The 28-year-old netminder has a 2.59 goals-against average (GAA), a .903 save percentage (SV%), and two shutouts this season.
Los Angeles Kings Preview
The Los Angeles Kings (30-17-7, 26-28 ATS) also endured a tough stretch, losing eight of ten games and suffering a four-game skid. However, they bounced back with three consecutive victories over Carolina, Montreal, and Dallas before splitting their last two games with a loss to Anaheim and a win over Utah. Currently third in the Pacific Division, they trail Vegas by seven points.
Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe lead the Kings with 46 points each, while Kevin Fiala (22 goals, 15 assists) and Alex Laferriere (15 goals, 16 assists) have provided additional offensive production.
Darcy Kuemper (17-6-6) is projected to start in goal for Los Angeles. The veteran goalie holds a 2.22 GAA, a .918 SV%, and two shutouts this season.
Betting Trends & Key Stats
Total Goals Trends
- The Kings’ last six games against Vegas following a win have gone over the total goals line at Crypto.com Arena.
- Ten of the Golden Knights’ last 11 night games at Crypto.com Arena have gone over the total goals line.
- The last five matchups between Pacific Division teams have gone under the total goals line.
- The Over 1.5 Goals in Period 3 market has hit in each of the Kings’ last 10 games.
- The Over 1.5 Goals in Period 1 market has cashed in each of the Golden Knights’ last seven road games against Western Conference opponents.
Team Insights
- Los Angeles ranks 29th in power-play percentage (15.20%).
- The Kings are 5th in goals allowed per game (2.54).
- Vegas boasts the 4th-best power-play percentage (27.41%).
- The Golden Knights rank 6th in goals per game (3.28).
Golden Knights vs. Kings Prediction
Expect a tightly contested game, with both teams capable of finding the back of the net. Instead of picking a winner, the best bet is the Over on total goals. Both head-to-head matchups this season have featured at least seven goals, and 10 of the last 12 meetings in Los Angeles have hit six or more. Additionally, four of the Kings’ last six games have surpassed the six-goal mark. Given these trends, another high-scoring affair is likely.