by Rod Pearson
Tuesday, Jan 13, 2026
Game Time: 10:00 pm ET, Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Where to Watch: TNT, HBO MAX, truTV
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Moneyline: VGK -112, LAK -108; Over/Under: 5.5 goals
Bet365: Moneyline: VGK -110, LAK -110; Over/Under: 6 goals
BetMGM: Moneyline: VGK -110, LAK -110; Over/Under: 6 goals
Season Record
Vegas Golden Knights: 21-11-12 (1st place, Pacific Division)
Los Angeles Kings: 19-16-10 (5th place, Pacific Division)
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Recent Form
Vegas Golden Knights: 5-3-2 last 10
Los Angeles Kings: 4-5-1 last 10
Vegas Golden Knights vs Los Angeles Kings Preview and Analysis
The Golden Knights are entering this game with 54 points, a 21-11-12 record overall, and they are 11-5-6 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the San Jose Sharks in their last game, winning that one on the road 7-2. Tomáš Hertl and Jack Eichel each led the team in goals scored with 2 while Pavel Dorofeyev, Shea Theodore, and Zach Whitecloud each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Tomáš Hertl and Mark Stone each led the team in assists with 3 while Jack Eichel led the team in shots on net in that game with 7. Carl Lindbom was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 20 shots with 18 saves and a .900 save percentage. Their offense has scored 144 goals this season averaging 3.3 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 136 goals against them allowing 3.1 goals per game.
The Kings are entering this game with 48 points, a 19-16-10 record overall, and they are 7-10-5 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Dallas Stars in their last game, losing that one at home 3-1. Quinton Byfield scored 1 goal for them in that one. Brandt Clarke and Corey Perry each led the team in assists with 1 while Quinton Byfield and Alex Turcotte each led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Darcy Kuemper was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 17 shots with 15 saves and a .882 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 120 goals this season averaging 2.7 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 128 goals against them allowing 2.8 goals per game.
Golden Knights vs Kings Prediction
The current betting odds have the Golden Knights listed as a slight favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Golden Knights have looked really good in their games this season with their 21-11-12 record overall which has them right at the top of their division in the West. They have been a good road team too with their 11-5-6 road record this season. Meanwhile, the Kings haven't looked great in their games this season with their 19-16-10 record overall which has them in the bottom half of their division in the West. They have looked terrible on home ice too with their 7-10-5 home record this year. The Kings were a solid team last season, but they relied a lot more on their home games last season and that is a big reason why they haven't looked as good this year. They just aren't winning games on home ice, and their offense has had big issues too. They had a great defense last year, but that defense hasn't been as good this season, so their offensive struggles have become a much bigger issue now. They are only 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, coming off another home loss to the Stars in their last one, and they have been really up and down all season. The Golden Knights are only 5-3-2 in their last 10 games, but they are off a 7-2 win over the Sharks in their last one and they have looked a lot better lately. They have been climbing the standings lately and they aren't going to give up their 1st place spot easily now that they have it. The Golden Knights have also scored a lot more goals than the Kings this season, and they have been putting pucks in the net lately too, so look for the Golden Knights to take advantage of this up and down Kings team that hasn't looked good on home ice all year. The best way to place a bet here is on the Golden Knights to win this game.
Golden Knights Kings Prediction: Our NHL Pick for Wednesday, January 14, 2026 (10:00 pm ET start time) is Knights 5 Kings 2.
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NHL Betting Trends
Vegas Golden Knights: 76-61 (-12 units) on the moneyline in all games. 40-39 (-17.8 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -200 or less. 6-15 (-13.9 units) on the moneyline revenging a loss vs opponent as a home favorite. 22-16 UNDER when playing against a marginal losing team (Win Pct. 40% to 49%).
Los Angeles Kings: 46-32 (+8.8 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 47-33 (+9.1 units) on the moneyline against good passing teams - averaging 5 or more assists per game. 13-8 (+2.8 units) on the moneyline at home when the money line is -100 to -150. 6-3 UNDER when playing their 8th game in 14 days.
Key Injuries
Vegas Golden Knights: B. Howden (C) Day To Day - Lower Body. B. Saad (LW) Day To Day - Undisclosed. C. Hart (G) Out - Leg. B. McNabb (D) Out - Upper Body. W. Karlsson (C) Out - Lower Body. A. Hill (G) Out - Lower-body.
Los Angeles Kings: J. Armia (RW) Day To Day - Upper-body. A. Kopitar (C) Out - Lower Body. T. Moore (LW) Out - Upper Body.
Notable Quotes
"We've stacked some wins together, and I think the guys realized that as we got into the second half of the year we weren't happy with where we are. We talked about it the other day, like some of the good things we've done with different people in and out of the lineup. They're going to take ownership of the team." - Bruce Cassidy after his team’s win against the Sharks in their game on Sunday.
“That’s a very bad stretch. The season’s not gone or slipping away, I don’t think. We have time to get this back and get on a roll, and I still believe that we will. Maybe a little more desperation, especially around that net to score some more goals. If we can score some more goals we’d be winning a lot more games.” - Drew Doughty after their loss against the Stars in their game on Monday.
Starting Lineups
Vegas Golden Knights
LW Ivan Barbashev
C Jack Eichel
RW Mark Stone
LD Noah Hanifin
RD Zach Whitecloud
G Carl Lindbom
Los Angeles Kings
LW Jeff Malott
C Alex Laferriere
RW Adrian Kempe
LD Mikey Anderson
RD Drew Doughty
G Darcy Kuemper
Statistical Leaders
Vegas Golden Knights
Points: Jack Eichel (48)
Goals: Tomas Hertl (18)
Assists: Mitch Marner (36)
GAA: Akira Schmid (2.49)
Los Angeles Kings
Points: Adrian Kempe (35)
Goals: Kevin Fiala (16)
Assists: Adrian Kempe (20)
GAA: Darcy Kuemper (2.49)
Coaches:
Vegas Golden Knights: Bruce Cassidy (4th season)
Los Angeles Kings: Jim Hiller (3rd season)
Rod Pearson
About the Author:
Rod Pearson has been a rabid sports fan his entire life. He grew up in Ontario, and was skilled in both hockey and baseball, and pitched in an elite baseball league for many years. In 2022, Rod decided to hang up his glove, so that he could write about the sports he loves -- but from a gambling perspective. Join Rod every day as he breaks down the games to find the best betting value.
