New Jersey vs Los Angeles Prediction

New Jersey vs Los Angeles Prediction

The Devils (24-13-3, 12-6-0 on the Road) are on the West Coast now, playing in Anaheim on New Year’s Eve before heading here to Los Angeles to face the Kings in the second night of a Road back-to-back. In their last 5 games, New Jersey is 3-2, losing at Columbus by 2 (4-2), shutting out the Penguins by 3 (3-0) and the Rangers by 5 (5-0), both at Home, icing the Hurricanes by 2 (4-2), and the losing at Carolina in the return game by 3 (5-2). The Kings are also 3-2 in the last 5, trouncing the Flyers by 4 (7-3), losing to the Predators in OT in Nashville (3-2), and the Capitals in DC by 2 (3-1), and then beating the Oilers in OT (4-3) and the Flyers (5-4), both by 1 goal at Home at Crypto.com Arena. At DraftKings, the Devils are +450 to win the Eastern Conference and 9/1 to win the 2025 Stanley Cup while the Kings are 11/1 to win the Western Conference and 25/1 to win the Stanley Cup.

Devils Head Into New Year’s Eve Atop the Metropolitan

New Jersey has been a bit of a surprise this 2024-25 NHL Regular Season and was leading the Metropolitan Division by 1 Point over the Capitals heading into play on Tuesday. Why so good this year? Three of the reasons are the Devils have been good on the Road (12-6-0), on the Power Play (30%, #1 in the Eastern Conference), and on the Penalty Kill (82.6%, #8 in the NHL). NJ has also gotten good Goaltending from Jakob Markstrom (19-6-2, 2.11 GAA), acquired in a Trade with the Flames this past June. Leading the New Jersey scoring attack has been LW Jesper Bratt (47 Points, 33 Assists), C Jack Hughes (46 points), C Nico Hischler (34 Points, 18 Goals), RW Timo Meier (27 Points), RW Stefan Noesen (26 Points), and D Dougie Hamilton (24 Points). The Devils are +185 to win the Metropolitan Division, the oddsmakers second choice behind the Capitals (+155).

New Jersey Devils Betting Trends

• The Devils are 9-4-0 vs the Western Conference
• New Jersey is 1-3 in its last 4 games on the Road
• The Devils are 5-2 vs the Pacific Division
• The Under is 2-8-0 in New Jersey’s last 10 games overall
• The Devils are 6-3-1-0 in their last 10 skates
• New Jersey is just 1-3 in its last 4 games at Los Angeles, losing 2x in OT

Kings Boast the NHL’s Second-Best Home Record

Los Angeles (13-20-3 O/U) has been a Strong Under team and has the fewest Losses at Home in the NHL (2) heading into this New Year’s Day matchup and the first NHL game of the new calendar year. The Kings have won 7 in a row at Crypto.com Arena, last losing on Home ice over a month ago on November 20 to the Sabres (1-0). LA’s 3 Home Losses have come to the Blackhawks (by 1), the Canucks (by 2), and the Sabres (by 1), so this team has been in all of its games in Lalaland. Goalies David Rittich (11-8-0, 2.55 GAA) and Darcy Kuemper (9-2-5, 2.43 GAA) have been good enough between the pipes. The Kings leading scorers are C Anze Kopitar (36 Points, 27 Assists), RW Adrian Kempe (25 Points, 17 Goals), RW Alex Laferrire (26 Points), LW Kevin Fiala (22 Points), LW Wayne Foegele (22 Points), and D Brandt Clarke (21 Points). Los Angeles is currently priced at +550 to win the Pacific Division behind both the division-leading Golden Knights (-140) and the defending Western Conference champion Oilers (+230).

Los Angeles Kings Betting Trends

• The Kings are 6-5-0 vs the Pacific Division
• The Under is 7-3 the last 10 meetings, 3-1-0 at Los Angeles
• The Kings are 9-4-3 vs the Eastern Conference
• There have been 4 1-Goal games in the last 6 Kings games
• The Kings are 5-3-0 in the last 8 series meetings, 3-1-0 at Home
• Los Angeles has allowed the fewest goal in the Pacific Division (95)

New Jersey vs Los Angeles Prediction

The Kings are 6-4 in the last 10 series meetings, going 3-1 at Home (12 GF-9 GA) with the Under a profitable 7-3-0, clicking on 3 straight (4, 6, 3) and on 3 of the 4 played in California (6, 7, 5, 3). These New Jersey Devils vs Los Angeles Kings NHL picks will look for a low-scoring and close game, with the matinee start time, the New Year’s Day holiday factor, and the Devils a bit tired coming in off that aforementioned game at Anaheim the night before. Taking New Jersey +1.5 in the Puck Line market also seems wise because the Devils are so good on the Road (8-3 L11), will probably have the better Goalie (if Markstrom gets the call) and could very well win this one. These are 2 of the best 8 teams in the NHL right now and a great inter-conference way to start the new year for the NHL.

Kevin’s Picks: Under 5.5 +105, Devils +1.5 -238