The LA Kings (2-3-2) and Dallas Stars (3-3-0) tangle in Thursday Western Conference action. The opening puck drop at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, will be at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Kings vs. Stars odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting; Kings won 2 of 3 games last season
LA is playing the second contest in a 5-game road trip that opened with the +107 Kings topping the St. Louis Blues 2-1 (Under 5.5) in overtime Tuesday. The win over the Blues snapped a 4-game losing streak (0-2-2).
The last Stars game was also Tuesday: -179 Dallas was dumped 5-1 (Under 6.5) in a home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Stars were outshot 29-23 in dropping their third straight. Dallas, which ranked sixth in the NHL in yielding just 2.71 goals per game (GPG) in 2024-25, has allowed 4 goals or more in 4 of its 6 games this fall.
Kings at Stars odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:47 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Kings +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Stars -155 (bet $155 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Kings +1.5 (-190) | Stars -1.5 (+155)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -102 | U: -118)Kings at Stars projected goalies
Darcy Kuemper (1-2-1, 2.74 GAA, .883 SV%) vs. Jake Oettinger (3-2-0, 3.13 GAA, .896 SV%)
Kuemper missed games last week due to a lower-body injury. He returned Tuesday to stop 17 of 18 pucks in Tuesday’s overtime triumph at St. Louis.
Oettinger was in net for the Columbus game: He allowed 4 goals on 28 shots.
Kings at Stars picks and predictionsPrediction
Kings 4, Stars 3
LA has averaged 2.57 GPG against 3.43 GPG allowed so far, but the Kings have played a very tough slate. Five of LA’s 7 games have been against clubs that currently sport a points percentage of .700 or better. That includes the Kings going toe-to-toe with the likes of the Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets on road ice. The Kings have outshot their opponents in 4 of their last 5 games.
Dallas has certainly been leakier than expected on defense. Allowing a 7-for-16 (43.8%) mark on the power play in its last 5 games has not helped.
The Kings have been good on the power play (26.3%), and if Kuemper gets the nod between the pipes, he figures to head into this start with some confidence after Tuesday’s performance.
BACK THE KINGS (+125).
No interest: PASS.
The Over cashed in the last 2 meetings last season. Both sides rank in the league’s bottom 6 on the penalty kill. And both have yielded plenty of 5-on-5 high-danger looks.
TAKE THE OVER 6 (-102).
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