Anaheim Ducks vs Los Angeles Kings Picks and Predictions for Saturday, December 27, 2025
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The Anaheim Ducks head to Los Angeles to face the Kings on Saturday, December 27, 2025, with puck drop set for 9:00 PM ET at crypto.com Arena. This Pacific Division matchup is fascinating because the standings and the betting market are pulling in slightly different directions: Anaheim owns the stronger record, but Los Angeles is priced as the favourite at home.
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West Coast Nightcap With Contrasting Season Résumés
Anaheim comes in 21-14-2 overall and 9-8-2 on the road. Los Angeles is 15-12-9 overall but just 4-8-4 at home — and the note in the game info points directly to the Kings trying to break a home slide. The moneyline reflects trust in the Kings’ structure and goaltending profile: LA -155 with Anaheim around +120, while the total is set at 6.5.
Anaheim’s Profile: Offence, Pace, and a Risky Goals-Against Number
The Ducks have been able to score this season (3.38 goals per game), and they generate a strong volume of shots (30.9 shots for per game). That’s the style that keeps them live as an underdog — they can create enough pressure to win stretches of play, even on the road.
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The issue is the other side of the ledger: Anaheim is allowing 3.41 goals against per game, and the penalty kill shown here sits at 75.4%. When you combine a higher event game (more chances both ways) with a penalty kill that can leak, the Ducks often end up needing to win with their offence rather than protecting tight leads.
Recent form from the last five is mixed: they’ve got a win, but also some rough results including an 8-3 loss and multiple one-goal defeats (including overtime). Also worth monitoring from what you provided: Leo Carlsson is listed Day-To-Day (Dec 27), which matters for lineup stability.
Los Angeles’ Identity: Low-Scoring Lean With Goaltending Carry Potential
Los Angeles looks like the opposite build. The Kings are scoring 2.50 goals per game and allowing 2.53, with a more moderate shot profile (28.2 for / 27.0 against). That points to a team that tries to keep games controlled and close, rather than trading chances.
Special teams are not a strength in the numbers you gave: the Kings power play is 13.5%, and the penalty kill is 78.0% — not disastrous, but not the kind of unit you want leaning on heavily if you take penalties.
And then there’s the key wrinkle in your injury report: Darcy Kuemper (G) is listed on IR with an estimated return of Dec 27. That’s important because your goalie table shows Kuemper has been excellent statistically (2.19 GAA, .917 SV%), and the difference between “Kuemper plays” vs “Kuemper doesn’t” changes how I view both the moneyline and the total.
The Goalie Angle That Can Flip This Handicap
Anaheim’s listed options:
- L. Dostal: 2.87 GAA, .899 SV%
- P. Mrazek: 3.85 GAA, .868 SV%
Los Angeles’ listed options:
- D. Kuemper: 2.19 GAA, .917 SV% (but on IR with Dec 27 estimate)
- A. Forsberg: 2.73 GAA, .901 SV%
- P. Copley: 3.07 GAA, .893 SV%
If Kuemper is unavailable, the Kings can still be competitive, but the margin for error shrinks — especially against an Anaheim team that shoots as much as it does. If Kuemper is available (or even if Forsberg goes and plays well), LA’s “keep it tight” identity becomes more realistic.
Best Picks and Predictions
Best Bet: Anaheim Ducks +1.5
I’m taking the goal and a half because Anaheim’s offensive production and shot volume give them a strong chance to stay within range, and Los Angeles’ 4-8-4 home record paired with modest scoring (2.50 GF/G) makes a multi-goal separation less automatic than the moneyline suggests. The best sportsbooks are the best way to go when you are betting on the Kings. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for the Ducks with the Onyx Odds promo code. Getting the most out of your bets on Ducks vs Kings can be done by using the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
Final Score Prediction
Final Score Prediction: Los Angeles Kings 4, Anaheim Ducks 3
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