Florida Panthers vs
Los Angeles KingsPredictions & Preview

Kings favored to defeat Panthers in cross-conference showdown at Crypto.com Arena to kick off 2024-25 NHL season

The 2024-25 NHL season kicks off on Wednesday, January 22nd with a cross-conference showdown between the Florida Panthers and the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings are slight moneyline favorites at -118, with a total of 5.5 goals expected. Both teams split a two-game series last season, with each winning on home ice. Currently, Los Angeles is favored at -120. This Panthers vs. Kings game is one of our NHL picks for Wednesday night.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Panthers +101 | Kings -120
• Spread: Panthers +1.5 (-245) | Kings -1.5 (+205)
• Total: Over/Under 5.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Los Angeles will win straight-up is 55%.

Florida vs Los Angeles Stats

Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-0 in their previous game and were looking to secure their second consecutive victory. Sergei Bobrovsky struggled in the game against the Detroit Red Wings, leading to Spencer Knight earning the start against the Ducks and recording his second shutout of the season. Bobrovsky was expected to start in the next game against the Anaheim Ducks, while Knight was projected to start against the Los Angeles Kings. The Panthers ranked 17th in the NHL in goals against and 11th in goals for on Tuesday morning. With a power ranking of 3, Florida is ranked 9th in offense, 16th in defense, and has a record of 27-17-3 this season. Take advantage of the best sports betting promos available.

Los Angeles Kings Analysis

The Los Angeles Kings have struggled recently, winning only one of their last five games. Despite a strong defensive performance, their offense has been lacking, leading to losses against teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Seattle Kraken. Goalie David Rittich had a tough outing in the latest game, giving up five goals. Forward Adrian Kempe scored a goal on the power play, but it wasn't enough to secure a win. Darcy Kuemper is expected to start in goal in the next game against the Panthers. The Kings are currently ranked 14th in power rankings and have a strong defense, but their offense is ranked 19th. They will need to improve their scoring to get back on track. Additionally, the Florida Panthers have had success in recent matchups against the Kings, going 2-0-1 in their last three meetings. To increase their chances of winning, the Kings may need to seek guidance from top hockey handicappers.

Kings poised to defeat reigning Stanley Cup champions in upcoming matchup against Panthers

I anticipate the Kings will rebound and secure a victory over the reigning Stanley Cup champions, who may struggle with fatigue as they play back-to-back games. Although the Kings' offense has faced challenges recently, the Panthers have shown vulnerability by allowing three or more goals in the majority of their recent games, excluding a recent match in Anaheim. With Darcy Kuemper returning as the goalie, the Kings possess the necessary firepower to compete against the Panthers' strong offensive lineup. Kuemper has demonstrated his skill by only allowing seven goals in six starts this month, achieving an impressive 1.18 GAA and a .956 save percentage.

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