The LA Kings look to inch closer to the top of the Pacific Division when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.

Projected Lineups

LA Kings (22-13-6)

Here is how the Kings skated in their loss to Boston on Thursday:

The team held a brief skate on Friday before traveling to Vegas, so we’ll learn more about potential lineup changes after Saturday’s morning skate.

Vegas Golden Knights (27-12-2)

Here’s how Vegas lined up on Thursday against Pittsburgh:

A couple of notes from the Golden Knights practice on Friday. Both Alec Martinez and Jonathan Marchessault skated in regular jerseys and could be available for Saturday’s game against the Kings.

5-on-5

Here’s how the two teams match up at 5-on-5 per Natural Stat Trick

Team CF% xGF% SCF% HDCF% SH% SV% PDO
Los Angeles Kings 51.9 53.0 52.0 52.9 8.1 0.907 0.988
Vegas Golden Knights 49.6 53.3 51.0 55.3 8.3 0.917 0.999

Vegas has shifted away from being a team that controls outright possession and is more focused on creating high-quality scoring chances. That, plus their strong goaltending, has certainly worked in the first half of the 2022-23 season.

Special Teams

Team PP% PK%
Los Angeles Kings 23.3 71.7
Vegas Golden Knights 25.7 78.7

An already dangerous Golen Knights power play is getting some reinforcements with Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault either having already returned or soon to be returning.

Betting Odds

Let’s look at the odds, courtesy of Betstamp.

*Note: the odds below are for sports books offered in New York. Refer to available sports books specific to your state.

**Odds as of 11:30 am ET/8:30 am PT may have changed since this was published.

Via Betstamp

For the third straight game, the LA Kings come in as underdogs. Two books are offering the visitors at +135, while DraftKings and WynnBetis offering Vegas at -154.

The total is either 6 or 6.5, depending on where you shop. If you like the over, a few books have the 6 at -120, while if you prefer the Under, BetRivers offers the 6 at +104. There are also some 6.5s out there.

News & Notes

  • Jack Eichel made his return for Vegas on Thursday, registering a goal and two assists. He is third on the team in points with 14 goals and 18 assists.
  • The Kings made a pair of transactions on Friday. First, Trevor Moore was placed on Injured Reserve. He was injured in the team’s game in Arizona. In addition, prospect Brandt Clarke was returned to the OHL’s Barrie Colts. He played his nine games with the Kings earlier in the season, registering a pair of assists while averaging 13:39 minutes per game. Clarke also played in five games with the Ontario Reign, picking up a goal and an assist.
  • There hasn’t been an update on Arthur Kaliyev, who has been on Injured Reserve recently as well.
  • The LA Kings allowed another power play goal against on Thursday, dropping their penalty kill to 28th in the NHL.
  • LA took advantage of a banged-up Golden Knights team in their last meeting, winning 4-2 while edging Vegas with slightly over 50% CF% and 51% xGF%. This will be the third meeting between the two teams, with Vegas winning the first one, 4-3.
  • Vegas has had a sub-50% CF% and SCF% at 5-on-5 over the last 25 games, though a number of those games have been without some of their top players. Even with that, they’ve managed over a 51% xGF% and over 53% HDCF%.
  • It has been quite the season for Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson. He is fourth in the NHL with a .915 save percentage. His 18 wins are tied for the third most in the league.

(Main Photo Credit: Jae C. Hong, AP)

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