Los Angeles Kings vs New Jersey Devils Prediction, Preview and Odds - 12/12/2024

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Thursday, December 12, 2024

Venue:  Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Kings +124, Devils -148; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Kings +125, Devils -150; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Kings +125, Devils -150; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

Los Angeles Kings:  17-8-3 (2nd place, Pacific Division)

New Jersey Devils:  18-10-3 (2nd place, Metropolitan Division)

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Los Angeles Kings:  8-2-0 last 10

New Jersey Devils:  6-3-1 last 10

The Kings are entering this game with 37 points, a 17-8-3 record overall, and they are 7-6-2 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the New York Islanders in their last game, winning that one on the road 3-1. Adrian Kempe, Mikey Anderson, and Kevin Fiala each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Adrian Kempe, Joel Edmundson, Anže Kopitar, Trevor Moore, and Alex Turcotte each led the team in assists with 1 while Kevin Fiala and Quinton Byfield 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 1 goal on 20 shots with 19 saves and a .950 save percentage. Their offense has scored 86 goals this season averaging 3.1 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 72 goals against them allowing 2.6 goals per game.

The Devils are entering this game with 39 points, an 18-10-3 record overall, and they are 7-6-3 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs in their last game, losing that one at home 2-1 in overtime. Ondřej Palát scored 1 goal for them in that one. Jesper Bratt led the team in assists with 1 while Timo Meier led the team in shots on net in that game with 6. Jacob Markström was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 16 shots with 14 saves and a .875 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 103 goals this season averaging 3.3 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 84 goals against them allowing 2.7 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Devils listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Devils have looked good in their games this season with their 18-10-3 record overall which has them right near the top of their division in the East. They haven't looked great on home ice with their 7-6-3 home record, but they will be looking to bounce back after a tight OT loss to the Maple Leafs in their last one. Meanwhile, the Kings have looked good in their games this season with their 17-8-3 record overall which has them right near the top of their division in the West. They are coming off a win over the Islanders in their last one, but they haven't looked great in their road games with their 7-6-2 road record this season. Their defense has been really good lately, but the Devils have also been good on defense and haven't been giving up many goals in their games. The Devils were shut out the other night and responded well in their game against the Leafs, getting a point in that one, but now they will be looking to grab both points to get themselves back on track. The Kings have looked good lately, but their road troubles will catch up to them here against one of the better teams in the East this season. The best way to place a bet here is on the Devils to win this game. 

Kings Devils Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Thursday, December 12, 2024 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Devils 3 Kings 2.

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Los Angeles Kings: 109-92 (-5.1 units) on the moneyline in all games. 58-50 (-9.1 units) on the moneyline off a win in their previous game. 17-26 (-12.1 units) on the moneyline when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 60%). 18-8 UNDER in December games.

New Jersey Devils: 11-3 (+8.2 units) on the moneyline after playing 3 consecutive home games. 22-12 (+7.9 units) on the moneyline after 2 or more consecutive losses. 71-59 (+3.8 units) on the moneyline against good passing teams - averaging 5 or more assists per game. 20-11 UNDER in December games.

Los Angeles Kings:  T. Lewis (C) Out - Lower-body. D. Doughty (D) Out - Ankle.

New Jersey Devils:  J. Allen (G) Day To Day - Upper-body. C. Lazar (C) Out - Knee. S. Hatakka (D) Out - Shoulder.

“Excellent. You know, you’re not sure how you’re going to come out, we flew all the way out here, all that kind of stuff and that was probably one of our best periods of the year. I’m disappointed we couldn’t sustain it, in the second period we started turning it over, got a little bit too active with our D, I thought the second half of the second period we got it back on track again.” - Jim Hiller after his team’s win against the Islanders in their game on Tuesday.

"They have the best goaltending in the league on the other side of the ice." - Sheldon Keefe after his team’s loss against the Maple Leafs in their game on Tuesday.

LW Trevor Moore

C Anze Kopitar

RW Adrian Kempe

LD Mikey Anderson

RD Vladislav Gavrikov

G Darcy Kuemper

LW Ondrej Palat

C Jack Hughes

RW Jesper Bratt

LD Brenden Dillon

RD Dougie Hamilton

G Jacob Markstrom

Points: A. Kopitar (32)

Goals: A. Kempe (14)

Assists: A. Kopitar (24)

GAA: D. Kuemper (2.38)

Points: J. Bratt (38)

Goals: N. Hischier (15)

Assists: J. Bratt (25)

GAA: J. Markstrom (2.48)

Coaches:

Los Angeles Kings: Jim Hiller (2nd season)

New Jersey Devils: Sheldon Keefe (1st season)