The Los Angeles Kings roll into Delta Center riding high after their convincing 4-1 victory over the Jets, facing a Utah squad that's just coming off their own solid win against Calgary.
With the Kings converting an impressive 10.5% of their shots this season while Utah boasts a formidable 21.43% power play rate, Thursday's matchup could hinge on special teams performance and goaltending – particularly with veterans Darcy Kuemper and Karel Vejmelka likely between the pipes.
Expect a tense battle between a playoff-positioned Kings team looking to solidify their standing and a hungry Utah Hockey Club fighting to improve their fortunes on home ice against Los Angeles.
Utah vs. Los Angeles Kings prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Utah vs Los Angeles Kings matchup, our predictive model gives the Kings a 58% chance of defeating the Utah.
Los Angeles Kings: 58% win probability
- Superior goal differential (+32) compared to Utah's negative differential (-17)
- Higher position in the standings (5th place vs 11th place)
- Better recent form with 3 wins in last 5 games (WWLLW) versus Utah's 2 wins (WWLLL)
Utah: 42% win probability
- Struggling defense allowing 229 goals against (compared to Kings' 187)
- Poor recent form losing 3 of their last 5 games (WWLLL)
- Lower point total (80 points in 75 games vs Kings' 93 points in 74 games)
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.
Utah vs. Los Angeles Kings odds
Here are the latest odds for the NHL matchup between the visiting Los Angeles Kings and the home team Utah on Thursday, April 03.
| Utah | Los Angeles Kings | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | +110 (via Caesars Sportsbook) | -128 (via FanDuel Sportsbook) |
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Utah vs. Los Angeles Kings preview
The red-hot LA Kings (42-23-9) roll into Salt Lake City riding high after a convincing 4-1 victory over the Jets, looking to strengthen their playoff position against the upstart Utah Hockey Club (34-29-12) on Thursday night at Delta Center.
Utah enters with momentum of their own following a solid 3-1 win against Calgary, though they'll face a tough challenge against a Kings squad that's been particularly effective at even strength, outscoring opponents 189-145 in those situations this season.
Keep an eye on the goaltending matchup, where veteran Darcy Kuemper (who sports an impressive career .914 save percentage) might get the nod for LA against Utah's Karel Vejmelka, who's had his struggles with a 67-95-18 career record.
Special teams could prove decisive - Utah boasts a respectable 21.43% power play conversion rate while LA's penalty kill has been tested, facing the 13th most power play opportunities in the league.
The betting lines heavily favor the Kings at -210, but don't sleep on Utah, who've shown they can surprise opponents on home ice.
With their balanced attack (211 goals this season) and home-ice advantage, Utah might just have what it takes to upset the odds, though they'll need to solve a Kings defense that's surrendered just 184 goals all year.
I'm looking forward to seeing if Utah's offense can crack LA's stingy defense or if the Kings' firepower proves too much for the Hockey Club to handle.
Buckle up for what should be an intense Western Conference battle with playoff implications for both squads.
Key stats
- 1LA Kings sit 5th in Western Conference with 93 points while Utah ranks 11th with 80 points - a 13-point gap
- 2Kings have a +32 goal difference (219 GF, 187 GA) compared to Utah's -17 (212 GF, 229 GA)
- 3LA Kings show strong recent form with WWLLW while Utah has been struggling with WWLLL
- 4Kings have won 42 games this season from 74 played while Utah has managed 34 wins from 75 games
Utah vs. Los Angeles Kings form
Utah vs. Los Angeles Kings head to head
Utah
17%
Los Angeles Kings
33%
Feb 23, 2025
Los Angeles Kings
5 : 3
Utah
Oct 26, 2024
Los Angeles Kings
3 : 2
Utah
Sep 24, 2024
Utah
3 : 2
Los Angeles Kings
