Are the LA Kings off to a successful start to the season?
Just a week ago the two NHL franchises met as part of the pre-season, now the match between the Los Angeles Kings vs. Vegas Golden Knights is also scheduled as part of the NHL season opener. There is – at least according to the best bookmakers – no clear favourite.
For a win of the LA Kings vs. Vegas Golden Knights, odds of 2.35 are offered. A bet on the visitors from Las Vegas, on the other hand, is rewarded with betting odds of 2.50 if successful. Vegas beat the Kings 6:4 in the preparation game just under a week ago. An offensive spectacle can’t be ruled out this time either.
Los Angeles Kings – Statistics & current form
Los Angeles Kings won a spot in the 2022 Stanley Cup Play-Offs last season with a strong end-of-season run, but were in for a nasty surprise when Todd McLellan’s side were eliminated from the Play-Offs by the Edmonton Oilers with a 4-3 defeat. It was a bitter pill to swallow, as LA had been leading 3:2 in the best-of-7 at one point.
The minimum goal this season is once again to make the play-offs. To achieve this, however, the LA Kings will have to work on their offensive game. Last season, they had a goal percentage of just 2.91 in the regular season, the second lowest among the eight playoff participants in the Western Conference.
The Los Angeles Kings won two of four NHL duels in the regular season against their upcoming opponent from Las Vegas last season. LA also lost twice, including a tough 5-1 defeat in the second half of the season. If the recent record is tweaked, Los Angeles Kings vs. Vegas Golden Knights odds of 2.35 are available for a bet on the LA Kings.
Vegas Golden Knights – Statistics & current form
The Vegas Golden Knights experienced a season to forget last season. After all, the NHL franchise from Las Vegas only missed out on a starting spot for the play-offs in the season-ending spurt. Because they lost three of the last four NHL games of the regular season, they “only” finished ninth in the final table of the Western Conference.
This was the first time in the franchise’s young history that the Golden Knights missed out on the NHL playoffs. In the previous four years, the Golden Knights were always represented in the play-offs. In 2017/18, the NHL franchise from Las Vegas even narrowly missed winning the title. In the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, they lost 4-1 to the Capitals.
The Vegas Golden Knights are therefore on the road to redemption this season. Head coach Bruce Cassidy’s team won a preseason game against their upcoming opponent from LA just last week. It would therefore not be at all surprising if the Golden Knights were to walk off the ice victorious this time as well.
Los Angeles Kings – Vegas Golden Knights Tip
The LA Kings and also the Golden Vegas Knights are among the strongest teams in the Western Conference and are expected to be in contention for the play-offs again this season. The latter missed out on the play-offs for the first time last season. Prior to that, Vegas had made four straight play-off appearances.
When you consider how strong the Golden Knights have been recently in the preseason, it is quite obvious to place a bet on the visitors in the season opener between the Los Angeles Kings vs. Vegas Golden Knights.
In the last three preseason games, Vegas not only celebrated three wins in a row, but also flexed their offensive muscles. Among other things, there was already a 6:4 against the LA Kings. We therefore dare to make a prediction on the Golden Knights and use four units for this purpose.
