Kings vs Devils Prediction, Starting Goalies & Best Bets
By Jordan Tomiyama in NHL Hockey
Published:
- The New Jersey Devils host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday afternoon as home favorites at Prudential Center
- New Jersey’s crease picture changed Friday after the Connor Hellebuyck trade with Winnipeg
- Read my Kings vs Devils prediction, starting goalies and best bets below
The biggest story in this matchup broke a day early. The New Jersey Devils landed Connor Hellebuyck from Winnipeg on Friday, sending goalie Nico Daws, other players, and draft picks the other way.
Now the Devils turn around and host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, with a lot of questions about who starts in goal. LA arrives looking for answers after a rough start.
Puck drop is set for 3:30 pm ET in Newark. My Kings vs Devils prediction is up first, followed by the goalie outlook and my best bets.
Kings vs Devils Prediction
- Over 6 goals (-105 at BetMGM)
My Kings vs Devils prediction is the Over 6 goals. The -110 price implies about a 51.2% chance, and since it’s a whole number, a game with exactly six goals is a push. It’s one of the better totals on the NHL odds board this weekend.
Start with the scoring math. New Jersey (6-4-0) scores 3.30 goals per game and allows 3.10, so Devils games average 6.4 total goals. Los Angeles (2-4-2) scores 2.50 and gives up 3.63, good for roughly 6.1 per game.
Special teams push it higher. The Devils’ power play is clicking at 21.9, while the Kings’ penalty kill has stopped just 63% of chances. New Jersey’s own PK sits at 72%, so even a 16% LA power play has openings.
Both sides have scorers rolling. Jack Hughes leads the Devils with 11 points in 10 games, and Hischier has four of his five goals on the man advantage. Artemi Panarin has six goals in eight games for the Kings.
Kings vs Devils Starting Goalies
Neither team has confirmed a starter, and Friday’s trade has made the Kings vs Devils starting-goalies picture murkier. Daws is now a Jet, and there’s no word yet on when Hellebuyck will make his New Jersey debut.
If Hellebuyck isn’t ready, Jake Allen has been the Devils’ other starter this season. He’s 4-2 with a 3.15 GAA and .883 save percentage across six starts.
Kings vs Devils Goalie Stats
Darcy Kuemper has handled most of the work for LA, but his 3.55 GAA hasn’t helped a struggling defense. Anton Forsberg has been sharper in his two starts; the sample is its own.
A Hellebuyck start would be the biggest threat to the Over. I still like the total at 6, but keep an eye on goalie news before puck drop.
Kings vs Devils Best Bets
- Devils to win (65¢ / -186 on Kalshi)
My second Kings vs Devils best bet is New Jersey to win, traded on Kalshi. A YES contract at 61¢ pays $1 if the Devils win, which implies about a 61% chance before fees.
Shot volume is the big gap here. The Devils are firing 34.9 shots per game and allowing just 25.0. The Kings average 29 shots and give up 29.5, so New Jersey should control a lot of the play.
The Devils also have depth up front. Bratt has nine points, while Gritsyuk has matched Hischier with five goals. For LA, Adrian Kempe (seven points, 28 shots) carries a lot of the load behind Panarin.
Kings vs Devils Odds
The Kings vs Devils odds at BetMGM have New Jersey at -186, about a 65% implied chance. That’s a bit pricier than the 61¢ Kalshi contract, so I’m trading that side there. LA sits at +170, or roughly 37%.
I prefer Over 6 to Over 6.5 because a six-goal finish returns the stake instead of losing.
Odds as of October 23rd via BetMGM, Kalshi. New to prediction markets? Check out our Kalshi promo code before you place your first trade.
Jordan has worked in sports media for the last seven years, writing articles, managing social media, and covering sporting events for various media outlets. Jordan's work focuses on NBA, WNBA, college basketball, and the NHL.
