Jan. 12, 2026, 9:37 a.m. ET<\/p>\n
The Dallas Stars<\/a> (26-10-9) visit the LA Kings (10-15-10) for a Monday night contest in Los Angeles, California. The battle at Crypto.com Arena is ticketed for a 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+) opening faceoff. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s<\/a> NHL odds around the Stars vs. Kings odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions<\/a>.<\/p>\n Season series: Tied 1-1<\/p>\n Dallas is continuing its longest road trip on the 2025-26 schedule. The halfway point of their 6-game Jan. 6-15 journey was Saturday, when the -174 Stars were edged 5-4 in overtime by the San Jose Sharks. Dallas is thus far 1-1-1 on the trip; the scuffling on defense Stars are just 1-3-4 since Dec. 23.<\/p>\n Los Angeles is back on home ice after a Friday-Saturday road trip to Winnipeg and Edmonton. On Saturday, the +146 Kings defeated the Oilers 4-3 in a shootout. Like their hosts in this game, the Kings have also been leaky on defense of late. They have allowed 4.00 goals per game in going 3-3-1 since Dec. 29.<\/p>\n Watch the NHL on Fubo!<\/a>Stars at Kings odds<\/p>\n Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook<\/a>; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub<\/a> for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:37 a.m. ET.<\/p>\n Moneyline (ML): Stars -118 (bet $118 to win $100) | Kings -102 (bet $102 to win $100)Puck line (PL)\/Against the spread (ATS): Stars -1.5 (+200) | Kings +1.5 (-250)Over\/Under (O\/U): 6 (O: -105 | U: -115)Stars at Kings projected goalies<\/p>\n Jake Oettinger (16-8-4, 2.76 GAA, .900 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Darcy Kuemper (12-8-7, 2.50 GAA, .905 SV%, 2 SO)<\/p>\n Oettinger last played in the Tuesday lid-lifter of the Stars’ road trip (at Carolina Hurricanes). He allowed 5 goals against the ‘Canes and has yielded 4-plus in 3 straight games.<\/p>\n Kuemper’s last game was Friday at the Winnipeg Jets. He coughed up 5 goals before being pulled after 16 shots and 2 periods, marking his fifth loss in his last 7 games. The 35-year-old owns an .854 SV% across 5 games this month.<\/p>\n Stars at Kings picks and predictionsPrediction<\/p>\n Kings 3, Stars 2<\/p>\n LA has won 3 of the last 5 series meetings and 2 straight meetings at home.<\/p>\n Dallas is just 1-2-2 across its last 5 road tilts. The last 3 times they’ve had mid-trip, 1-day rest, the Stars have gone 0-1-2. Oettinger has allowed 3 goals or more in 4 straight road starts and, for the season, owns an .895 SV% away from home.<\/p>\n Expected-goal metrics peg the Stars as being rather lucky at both ends when it comes to 5-on-5 play. Generous shooting and save percentages could well be due for some regression, and that would make for some peelback in Dallas’ win rate. Looking at recent results, that would appear to be already underway.<\/p>\n The Stars do have a terrific power play (29.1%), but Dallas is just 2 for 17 on the man advantage since Dec. 27. In that same department, the Kings are 6 for their last 22 (27.2%).Kuemper has stopped 34 of 36 (.944 SV%) pucks against the Stars this season. Over his career, he’s had exceptional numbers at home (.919 SV%) and in January (.917 SV%).<\/p>\n Over its last 10 games, LA has been outpacing foes in high-danger looks by a wide margin.<\/p>\n Peg the KINGS (-102) as being a solid value on this Monday night.<\/p>\n No leverage to be had here: AVOID.<\/p>\n The Under prevailed in both previous meetings this season and is 8-2 across the last 10 Dallas-LA games.<\/p>\n For the season, Dallas has been stingy when playing on 1-day rest.<\/p>\n The UNDER 6 (-115) is a slight lean.<\/p>\n For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com<\/a> and BetFTW<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter\/X<\/a> and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n