Feb. 25, 2026, 6:35 a.m. ET

The Vegas Golden Knights (27-16-14) and the LA Kings (23-19-4) meet Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Puck drop is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (TNT / HBO Max / truTV). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Golden Knights vs. Kings and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Season series: Golden Knights lead 2-1

The Kings won 6-5 in a shootout in Las Vegas Oct. 8 as moderate underdogs (+170) as the Over (5.5) cashed. VGK has won the past 2 meetings, including a 3-2 win in overtime in L.A. Jan. 14 as slight favorites (-125) as the Under (5.5) cashed. It won 4-1 on home ice against the Kings Feb. 5 in the most recent meeting, cashing as moderate favorites (-140) as the Under (5.5) hit.

VGK won back-to-back games prior to the break, including that 4-1 win over the Kings at T-Mobile Arena Feb. 5. The Golden Knights piled up 4 goals in the first period, with forwards Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Pavel Dorofeyev and Mitch Marner with scores. Kings F Trevor Moore notched a goal late in the first period to make it 4-1. Over bettors probably thought they were in good shape, but with no goals in the final 44:57, the Under (5.5) stunningly came in.

L.A. stumbled into the break with a 1-3-1 mark in the final 5 games, while averaging 1.8 goals per game (GPG) on offense. The Under was 5-1 in the final 6 outings before the hiatus.

Watch the NHL on Fubo!Golden Knights at Kings odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:18 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Golden Knights +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Kings -155 (bet $155 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Golden Knights +1.5 (-200) | Kings -1.5 (+165)Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)Golden Knights at Kings projected goalies

Adin Hill (4-3-3, 3.27 GAA, .869 SV%) vs. Darcy Kuemper (14-11-9, 2.59 GAA, .900 SV%, 2 SO) 

Hill was in between the pipes the last time these met right before the break, turning aside 32 of 33 shots in the 4-1 victory at “The Fortress”. It was easily his best performance since returning from a 3-month absence due to injury, as he had allowed 3 or more goals in 5 of his previous 6 starts before the solid showing Feb. 5.

Kuemper was on the Team Canada roster, and he received a silver medal, but he did not play in the Milano-Cortina Olympics. He was in uniform as the backup for 3 of the team’s 5 games before the Gold Medal game loss. He hasn’t faced the Golden Knights since Jan. 14, when he stopped 24 of 27 shots in a 3-2 OTL.

Golden Knights at Kings picks and predictionsPrediction

Kings 3, Golden Knights 2

The KINGS (-155) are worth a look as moderate favorites as play resumes after the 3-week Olympic hiatus.

For the Golden Knights, Eichel was part of the contingent from Team USA which was in Washington, D.C., Tuesday for the White House visit with President Trump, as well as an appearance at the State of the Union address in the evening. So, after being in Italy Sunday for the big win, partying in Miami on Monday to celebrate the gold, then going to the nation’s capital, before flying to L.A., Eichel could be a bit sluggish as he struggles to catch up.

The Kings are well rested, and raring to go, and that’s bad news for Vegas.

If you would like a little insurance, but can’t take the Golden Knights +1.5 (-200) straight up, it is not recommended to play them on the puck line. You would need to risk twice as much as your potential return. If you like Vegas, just bet it straight up.

AVOID.

UNDER 5.5 (-115) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.

The Under was 5-1 in the past 6 meetings for the Kings prior to the break, while going 9-3 in the previous 12 outings. The Under was 5-2 in the previous 7 starts by Kuemper, too.

For VGK, the Under wasn’t as strong of a play before the break, but the Over-Under did split 3-3 in the final 6 outings. Let’s go low, but don’t get carried away.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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