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The Los Angeles Kings close out a back-to-back on Saturday night when they visit the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center in Newark. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM ET on ESPN+, and this one carries real weight for both sides. Los Angeles enters at 27-23-15 and just moved ahead in the Western wild-card race after Friday’s 3-2 win over the Islanders, while New Jersey is 32-31-2 and trying to steady itself after a 5-4 home loss to Calgary.
This is also a scheduling spot bettors should respect. The Kings have been competitive on this road trip, but they are playing their second game in as many nights after using Darcy Kuemper on Friday. The Devils, meanwhile, have had a day off and should come in fresher, even if their recent form has been a little uneven. New Jersey has dropped two straight after a four-game run, so there is some urgency on the home side too.
Los Angeles Kings vs New Jersey Devils Odds
These are the current betting lines for Saturday’s matchup, though bettors should keep checking the latest NHL odds before puck drop in case this market shifts later in the day.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Kings | +121 | +1.5 | O 5.5 |
| New Jersey Devils | -142 | -1.5 | U 5.5 (-109) |
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Los Angeles Kings Betting Form
Los Angeles is not a flashy team right now, but it is playing a pretty useful style for underdog spots. The Kings have points in three straight on this trip and just beat the Islanders 3-2 behind goals from Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar, and Trevor Moore. That is usually how this team wins: tight structure, enough finishing from its top players, and dependable work in net. Their season-long defensive numbers support that too, and it is why the total deserves real attention in this matchup.
The main concern is the spot, not the profile. Kuemper played Friday, so Los Angeles may turn to Anton Forsberg here, though that had not been fully confirmed when the matchup was being updated. If Forsberg gets the call, that creates a little more volatility, even if his numbers have been serviceable. The Kings still have enough veteran stability through Kopitar and enough speed on the wings to make New Jersey uncomfortable, but this is clearly a tougher handicap because of the back-to-back and travel angle. You can dig deeper into Kings stats and results if you want the broader game log.
Availability is another piece to watch because Los Angeles is not at full strength up front. Joel Armia, Kevin Fiala, and Andrei Kuzmenko have all been listed out, which chips away at some of the secondary scoring depth this lineup would normally bring. Monitor the Los Angeles Kings injury report before puck drop because if the Kings are a little thinner than usual, it makes the under and the Devils side more appealing.
New Jersey Devils Betting Form
The Devils have not been steady enough lately, but the offense still has some bite. In Thursday’s 5-4 loss to Calgary, Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes each had a goal and an assist, while Jesper Bratt added two assists. That game was messy in spots, though it also reminded bettors that New Jersey can generate enough pace and enough quality chances to punish defensive breakdowns. When this team gets moving downhill, especially at home, it can look dangerous for long stretches.
The issue is whether the Devils can finish that push with clean defensive hockey. Markstrom has been carrying a lot of the workload, and he had already made seven straight starts entering this game window. He is still the likely starter and gives New Jersey the more stable goaltending expectation here, but the save percentage has been uneven and the blue line is not quite whole. That matters against a Kings team that is comfortable waiting for mistakes instead of forcing the pace. Still, the rest advantage and home ice give New Jersey a meaningful edge. For more context, check the Devils schedule and stats page flow against the rest of the market.
Brett Pesce being out is not nothing, and Stefan Noesen remains unavailable as well. Those absences do change some of the balance in this lineup, especially on the defensive side where New Jersey would rather be heavier and cleaner in its own zone. Keep tabs on the New Jersey Devils injury report because if the Devils remain short there, it slightly lowers my confidence on the puck line even if I still prefer their moneyline.
Los Angeles Kings vs New Jersey Devils Matchup Breakdown
This game probably comes down to who controls the first 10 minutes. Los Angeles would love to slow it down, lean on its structure, and make this look like the kind of road game that hangs around 2-2 late. New Jersey would rather force tempo, use its speed through the neutral zone, and test a Kings team that is playing on tired legs. That contrast is the heart of the handicap for me.
At 5-on-5, the Devils have more burst and maybe a little more creativity, but the Kings are usually the cleaner defensive team. That is why the total is tricky. A rested New Jersey side can push this game open, yet Los Angeles has been living in lower-event games because it trusts its structure and goaltending. If Forsberg starts instead of Kuemper, that opens the door a bit more for New Jersey’s top line. If Kuemper were somehow available again, the under would get more attractive. Right now, I think the goalie uncertainty matters enough that bettors should wait as long as possible before locking in a total.
Special teams may tilt it slightly toward New Jersey, especially at home where it tends to play with a little more pace and confidence. The Devils also come in fresher, and that is not a throwaway note in mid-March. A rested home team against a road club on the second night of a back-to-back is one of those spots where an NHL betting guide can be useful, because the side and total are both tied closely to schedule context, not just raw talent.
There is also a bigger-picture playoff angle here. Los Angeles is trying to hang onto postseason position in the West, while New Jersey is still fighting for traction in the East and cannot afford too many home misses. Late-season urgency does not always show up evenly, but it usually matters. That is part of why this feels more like a situational Devils bet than a pure power-rating bet, and that kind of distinction matters if you use a broader sports betting strategy guide to frame price versus spot.
Los Angeles Kings vs New Jersey Devils Predictions and Best Bets
My first lean is New Jersey on the moneyline. The number is not cheap, but I think the spot supports it. The Devils are at home, they are rested, and they are facing a Kings team that played a tight game Friday night and may have to rotate in Anton Forsberg. Los Angeles has been competitive, no doubt, but this is the kind of scheduling edge I usually do not like to fade unless the dog is offering a bit more value than this.
The total is where I am a little more cautious. On paper, the under makes sense because Los Angeles is built for tighter games and the projected score range still looks modest. The problem is that New Jersey games can get loose quickly when the Devils are chasing offense, and Markstrom has not exactly made every game feel calm lately. Even so, I still lean under 5.5 because the Kings are likely to drag this toward their preferred tempo unless the game script breaks early.
I do think there is a case for Kings +1.5 if you are expecting another one-goal game, and honestly that may be the safer derivative angle if the price is reasonable. But if I am choosing one primary bet, I would rather back the rested home side and trust the spot. Sometimes the cleanest handicap is just that one team is in a better position to play its game, and I think that is New Jersey here.
Best Bet: New Jersey Devils moneyline (-142).
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NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you are betting NHL regularly, it helps to compare multiple opinions instead of relying on a single read. ScoresAndStats makes that easier because you can track today’s NHL picks and see where different handicappers line up on the same game. In a matchup like Kings vs. Devils, where the side and total both have some push and pull, that kind of comparison can be useful.
The platform also gives bettors more transparency than the typical picks page. You can check the handicapper leaderboard, review long-term records, and compare styles across a wider group of analysts. That matters in hockey, where variance is always hanging around and short-term heaters can fool people pretty fast.
And if you want more than just the free side-by-side view, there are also premium NHL picks available from cappers with established track records. For bettors trying to sharpen process as much as picks, that combination of daily volume, transparent results, and educational tools is a strong place to start.
