The LA Kings (0-1-0) and Vegas Golden Knights (0-0-0) square off Wednesday. Puck drop from T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, is set for 10 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Kings vs. Golden Knights odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

2024-25 season series: Kings won 3-1

The Kings opened their season with a tough 4-1 home loss to the Colorado Avalanche Tuesday night, falling as slight -101 underdogs with the Under (6) cashing. G Darcy Kuemper struggled, giving up 4 goals on just 23 shots. LA’s lone goal came from LW Kevin Fiala, who also added 2 hits, a takeaway and 2 giveaways. The Kings won’t have much time to regroup, as they travel to Las Vegas for a back-to-back matchup tonight.

The Vegas Golden Knights finished the 2024-25 season with a 50-22-10 record and 110 points, capturing the Pacific Division title. C Jack Eichel led the way with 94 points (28 goals, 66 assists), while RW Pavel Dorofeyev scored 35 goals and C Tomas Hertl bolstered the power play. G Adin Hill provided steady play in net as Vegas reached the Second Round before falling to the Edmonton Oilers in overtime of Game 5. Heading into the new season, the Golden Knights will look to build on their depth after losing veterans RW Jonathan Marchessault and C Chandler Stephenson in free agency but adding scoring punch with the signings of RW Mitch Marner and LW Anthony Duclair and a trade for D Erik Brännström.

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Kings at Golden Knights odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:52 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Kings +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Golden Knights -210 (bet $210 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Kings +1.5 (-140) | Golden Knights -1.5 (+115)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -115 | U: -105)Kings at Golden Knights projected goalies

Darcy Kuemper (31-11-0, 2.02 GAA, .922 SV%, 5 SO in ’24-25) vs. Adin Hill (32-13-5, 2.47 GAA, .906 SV%, 4 SO in ’24-25)

Kuemper’s season debut didn’t go as planned, as he stopped 19 of 23 shots faced (.826 SV%) in the Kings’ home loss to Colorado Tuesday night. It was a rough start for the veteran goaltender. Kuemper’s last outing against the Golden Knights was Feb. 24, when he earned the win by stopping 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%). He’ll aim to return to that form Wednesday night in Vegas.

Hill’s season came to a disappointing close in the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where the Oilers eliminated the Golden Knights. After an outstanding regular season, Hill posted a 5-6 record in the postseason with a 2.93 GAA and an .887 SV%. His last meeting with the Kings was March 9, when he allowed 6 goals on 35 shots (.829 SV%) in a loss. Despite the playoff struggles, Hill’s 4 shutouts during the regular season tied him for seventh in the league.

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Kings at Golden Knights picks and predictionsPrediction

Golden Knights 5, Kings 2

PASS.

Vegas (-210) will take care of business in their season opener at home, but I don’t want to bet 2.1 units to win 1. I’ll take my wager to the puck line.

I’m backing GOLDEN KNIGHTS -1.5 (+115) over the Kings, and the tactical matchups strongly favor a Vegas blowout.

One major edge comes from lineup timing and fatigue. The Kings are arriving on a back-to-back. That schedule exerts wear on forwards and defensemen, especially in transition play. Meanwhile, Vegas is fresh at home, giving it a major energy advantage.

The Knights’ roster also boasts elite forward firepower. The addition of Marner pairs beautifully with Eichel and RW Ivan Barbashev, forming a top line with chemistry and playmaking ability. That injection of offense strengthens both 5-on-5 and power play units, making it harder for the Kings to defend.

Moreover, Vegas has been a consistent machine in goals creation, finishing last season among the league’s best in goals per game and owning one of the strongest power plays in the NHL. Its puck control and depth allow it to cycle in offense without freez-ups.

Defensively, Vegas is built for shutdown — solid gap control, reliable transition defense and the kind of structure that forces the opponent into low-percentage shots. LA’s defensive breakdowns and weaker forward depth make it vulnerable to a multi-goal margin defeat like last night at home. With energy, offensive depth and defensive stability, Vegas is fully equipped to dominate.

BET OVER 6 (-115).

Goals should come in bunches Wednesday night when the Kings and Golden Knights face off in Las Vegas. The last 4 meetings — and 6 of the past 8 — between these Pacific Division rivals have gone Over. Vegas finished sixth in the NHL last season with 274 goals and added even more offensive depth this offseason. LA wasn’t far behind with 250. Kuemper just surrendered 4 goals in his season debut last night, while Hill allowed 6 the last time he faced the Kings. Expect another high-scoring matchup under the bright lights of Vegas.

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