NHL

Los Angeles Kings vs Utah Hockey Club

Lions of L.A. Look to Clip Utah in High-Stakes Clash

Los Angeles Kings

Kingston (42-23-9) VS Jazz Bear (34-29-12)

Apr 3, 2025 | 8:00 PM ET | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Utah Hockey Club
Moneyline Pick: Los Angeles Kings (-130): Grade of Pick: B+
With Anže Kopitar and Adrian Kempe striking potent form for the Kings, Los Angeles enters Thursday’s tilt against Utah riding a four-game win streak and looking laser-focused on playoff seeding. In contrast, the Yeti have dropped three straight and are clinging to postseason hopes, making every point crucial. Utah’s top-pair blue-liner Josh Mahura remains sidelined with a lower-body injury, weakening their ability to contain the Kings’ dynamic rush. Historically, Kopitar has fared well in this matchup, logging 7 points in his last 5 appearances against Utah. The Kings’ consistent two-way play combined with better recent form and health gives them the edge, despite the road crowd at Delta Center. This bet earns a B+—a solid choice with strong probability, though the moderate payout at -130 nudges its value just below elite levels. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 03/04/2025 04:25
Over/Under Pick: Under 5.5 (-110) - Grade: B
Jonathan Quick has been lights out for the Kings lately, helping Los Angeles notch three straight wins as they lock down their playoff spot with eyes on seeding. Meanwhile, the Utah Hockey Club, still loosely clinging to Wild Card hope, has dropped 3 of their last 4, including a pair of low-scoring contests that highlight their offensive inconsistencies. With key figures like Adrian Kempe continuing to lead the charge for the Silver and Black, they face a Utah squad dealing with uneven production and injuries to key pieces like defenseman Brock Faber. The Yeti (as fans have started calling Utah’s team) usually rely on strong home crowd energy, but that hasn't translated into firepower against tighter Pacific Division opponents. Andrei Kuzmenko has put up decent numbers against L.A. in the past, but has been quiet over the past two weeks. With playoff tensions rising and both squads leaning on their goaltending cores — especially Utah’s goaltender Juuse Saros trying to stop the bleeding — this feels like a narrow, grind-it-out affair rather than a goal fest. The line at 5.5 reflects past offensive stretches that don’t factor late-season pressure. We grade the “Under” a B — decent value, but not a slam dunk as one power play goal could shift the margin. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 03/04/2025 04:25
Puckline Pick: Utah Hockey Club, +1.5 (-235) – Grade: B
Coming off a gritty two-game winning streak, the Utah Hockey Club is peaking at just the right time, hosting a red-hot Los Angeles Kings squad that has won four straight. While the Crown-wearers remain imposing at 42-23-9, they’ll be skating without key two-way center Phillip Danault (upper-body injury), opening the door for Utah’s top line, led by breakout winger Kevin Fiala, to shine against his former club. Goalie Juuse Saros has quietly stabilized Utah's net with a .922 save percentage over his last five starts, providing much-needed consistency. And while L.A.'s Anze Kopitar has historically produced well against Utah—netting three goals in their last two meetings—the Mormons have become defensively tighter during their recent push for a wildcard spot. With the Kings possibly taking their foot off the gas as they secure playoff seeding, the home underdogs are well-positioned to keep it close under the Delta Center lights. With a low-risk payout and Utah trending positively, the +1.5 puckline offers decent value—though at -235 odds, it’s far from a steal. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 03/04/2025 04:26
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