The Los Angeles Kings (29-17-7) are set to face off against Utah (24-23-9) in what promises to be an intriguing matchup at Crypto.com Arena this Saturday night.
The Kings enter the contest with strong momentum, having established themselves as one of the more consistent teams in the Western Conference with 65 points and an impressive .613 points percentage this season.
Utah comes into the game showing resilience in their recent outings, including a hard-fought 4-4 tie against the Capitals where they demonstrated their offensive capabilities.
The goaltending battle will be particularly interesting, with Karel Vejmelka expected to start for Utah against the Kings' Darcy Kuemper, who has maintained a solid .914 career save percentage.
While Los Angeles has been more effective on home ice this season, Utah's ability to generate scoring chances, converting 10% of their shots, suggests they could pose a significant challenge to the hosts.
This Western Conference clash will not only impact both teams' standings but could also serve as a crucial indicator of their competitive trajectory heading into the final stretch of the season.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Utah prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Los Angeles Kings vs Utah matchup, our predictive model gives Utah a 53% chance of defeating the Kings.
Utah: 53% win probability
- Consistent scoring output (158 goals scored this season)
- Better recent form (WLWWL in last 5 games vs Kings' LWWWL)
- More games played (56 vs 53) providing better match fitness
Los Angeles Kings: 47% win probability
- Fewer games played (53) leading to potential rust
- Lower scoring efficiency (151 goals in 53 games)
- Recent inconsistency in form (LWWWL showing vulnerability)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Utah odds
Here are the latest odds for the NHL matchup between Utah visiting the Los Angeles Kings at home on Saturday, February 22.
| Los Angeles Kings | Utah | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -170 (via Caesars Sportsbook) | +143 (via Caesars Sportsbook) |
Los Angeles Kings vs. Utah preview
The Los Angeles Kings are set to host the Utah Hockey Club in what promises to be an intriguing matchup at the Crypto.com Arena this Saturday night, with advanced analytics favoring the home team.
The Kings, currently holding a solid 29-17-7 record, enter this contest as -150 favorites, reflecting their stronger overall season performance and home-ice advantage.
Utah (24-23-9) comes into this matchup following a spirited 4-4 tie against the Capitals, where they demonstrated their offensive capabilities by converting four goals on 27 shots, including a successful power play conversion.
The Kings' recent performance has been steady, as evidenced in their last outing - a 1-1 tie against the Ducks, where they showed offensive intent with 44 shots on goal despite struggling to convert on three power play opportunities.
A key matchup to watch will be between the pipes, where Utah's Karel Vejmelka (.900 save percentage) will face off against LA's Darcy Kuemper, who brings an impressive .914 career save percentage to the contest.
The special teams battle could prove decisive, with Utah converting an impressive 22.44% of their power play opportunities this season, while the Kings boast a strong penalty kill rate of 83.01%.
Los Angeles has been particularly effective at even strength this season, notching 132 goals in such situations, though their power play efficiency ranks 30th in the NHL with just 18 goals.
According to sophisticated predictive models, the Kings hold a 59% chance of victory, though Utah's recent offensive showing suggests they shouldn't be overlooked as underdogs.
With the total set at 5.5 goals and both teams demonstrating the ability to generate significant shot volume, fans at the Crypto.com Arena could be in for an entertaining Saturday night of hockey.
Key stats
- 1LA Kings (7th) vs Utah (10th) - significant 8-point gap in standings
- 2LA Kings have better defensive record with 136 goals against vs Utah's 170
- 3LA Kings' recent form LWWWL vs Utah's WLWWL shows similar inconsistency
- 4LA Kings have played fewer games (53) than Utah (56), holding 3 games in hand
Los Angeles Kings vs. Utah form
Los Angeles Kings vs. Utah head to head
Los Angeles Kings
17%
Utah
17%
Oct 26, 2024
Los Angeles Kings
3 : 2
Utah
Sep 24, 2024
Utah
3 : 2
Los Angeles Kings
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