Boston Bruins vs Los Angeles Kings Picks and Predictions for Saturday October 17 2026
You know what I can’t figure out? How Los Angeles has managed to get through five hockey games without winning one. This isn’t some team that was supposed to spend the whole season at the bottom of the standings. The Kings were supposed to be pretty good. Instead, they’re 0-3-2, their goaltending has been a mess, and now Boston comes to town looking like a team that’s figured out how to score again. The Bruins and Kings meet Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with the puck dropping at 9:00 PM ET. NESN will have the Boston broadcast. One betting board has the Bruins around -212 and the Kings at +177, which is a pretty hefty price for a road team. I like Boston here, but there’s something worth remembering before you throw money on the Bruins. They’re playing Anaheim Friday night, so this is the second half of a back-to-back. That’s the kind of thing that can make a good team look pretty ordinary. Be sure to check out our free NHL picks for more NHL predictions throughout the season.
Boston Bruins Have Been Putting Goals On The Board
Boston is 5-2-0, and the Bruins have won three straight heading into Friday’s game against Anaheim. They’ve scored 17 goals in those three wins. Seventeen! They beat Utah 6-1, Philadelphia 5-1, and San Jose 6-3 on Tuesday. That’s a nice little stretch, even if Philadelphia and San Jose aren’t exactly the toughest teams in the league. What I liked about the San Jose game was that Boston didn’t panic when the Sharks tied it twice. They just kept playing and eventually pulled away. The Bruins got some good goaltending, too, with 35 saves in that one. But here’s where I get a little cautious. They still have to play Friday night before this trip to Los Angeles. We don’t know how much energy they’ll have left Saturday, and that’s not something I’d ignore.
The Bruins are averaging 3.71 goals per game and allowing 2.29. Those are pretty good numbers, especially considering they were struggling to score earlier this month. They’re getting 25.6 shots per game, so it’s not like they’re peppering opposing goalies with 40 shots every night. They’ve just been finishing their chances. The power play is converting 16.7%, which isn’t anything special, but the five-on-five offense has been doing enough to make up for it. The penalty kill is sitting at 76%, and that’s one area Los Angeles might be able to exploit. But the Kings haven’t been particularly dangerous with the extra man, either. Boston has also been getting solid goaltending, and that’s a big difference between these two clubs right now. The Bruins don’t need to score six every night when they’re keeping opponents around two.
Boston’s leading goal scorer has four through seven games, while its top playmaker has six assists. The offense has been spread around pretty well, and that’s why the Bruins have been difficult to defend lately. Their regular starting goalie is 5-2 with a .930 save percentage and a 1.99 goals-against average. That’s excellent work. Boston also got an important defenseman back Tuesday after he missed the first six games, and he scored in his season debut. That helps a blue line that’s been playing well anyway. Jakub Dvorak is listed out with an upper-body injury, but otherwise the Bruins have been getting healthier. The one thing I’m watching is who starts in goal Saturday. With games on consecutive nights, there’s a pretty good chance Boston splits the workload. If the backup gets the start, that changes the conversation a little.
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Los Angeles Kings Need To Find A Win Somewhere
Los Angeles is 0-3-2, and I imagine things are getting a little uncomfortable around that dressing room. The Kings opened the season by giving up 13 goals in two games. Thirteen! Then they lost 2-1 to Florida, 2-1 in overtime to Vegas, and 4-1 to Edmonton on Tuesday. At least the defense looked better in those two close losses, but the offense has been miserable. Against Edmonton, Los Angeles was down 3-0 after the first period, and the game was pretty much over. Their starting goalie allowed three goals on seven shots before getting pulled. Seven shots! That’s the kind of start that makes everybody on the bench stare at the ice and pretend they didn’t see what happened. The Kings have had a few days to think about that loss. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe they’ve been thinking too much already.
The Kings are averaging 2.2 goals per game and allowing 4.2. That’s a pretty ugly combination. Their power play is converting 15.8%, and the penalty kill has been downright awful at 57.9%. You can’t survive numbers like that for very long. Los Angeles has been getting more than 30 shots per game, so the opportunities are there. The problem is finishing them. Boston has been scoring nearly four goals per night, and the Kings have been allowing more than four. That’s not a matchup I’d want if I were sitting behind the Los Angeles bench. The one thing that gives me pause is that the Kings have had three days off since Tuesday. Boston will be playing its second game in two nights. If Los Angeles can jump on the Bruins early, maybe that extra rest finally pays off.
Los Angeles has gotten three goals from its leading scorer and four points from its top offensive player through five games. That’s not enough production from a team that was supposed to have some scoring depth. Their starting goaltender has struggled, and the backup hasn’t exactly been stealing games either. The team save percentage is sitting around .842, which is terrible. The injuries haven’t helped. Kevin Fiala remains out following leg surgery, while Mats Zuccarello and Alex Turcotte are also unavailable. Those are important offensive pieces, and the Kings have been missing them badly. Los Angeles has enough talent to turn things around eventually. But until the goaltending improves and somebody starts finishing chances, I don’t know how you’re supposed to trust this team with your money.
Boston Bruins vs Los Angeles Kings Picks and Predictions
Boston Bruins Moneyline (-212)
I’m taking Boston, although I’m not thrilled about laying -212 on a team playing its second game in two nights. That’s a lot of juice. But look at what we’re dealing with here. The Bruins have won three straight and scored 17 goals in those games. Los Angeles hasn’t won anything, and the Kings are allowing 4.2 goals per game. Their penalty kill is barely stopping anybody, and the goaltending has been awful. I know the Kings have had a few days off, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they come out with a little more energy than Boston. That’s the part that worries me. But the Bruins have been getting excellent goaltending and enough scoring from different parts of the lineup to make things difficult for opponents. Even if Boston doesn’t have its best legs, I think the Kings are going to have trouble keeping up. I wouldn’t chase this price much higher, but I’ll take the Bruins to win.
Over 5.5 Goals
I’m going over 5.5, and the Kings’ defense is the biggest reason. Los Angeles has allowed 21 goals in five games. That’s more than four per night. Boston just scored six against San Jose, five against Philadelphia, and six against Utah. The Bruins have been finishing their chances, and Los Angeles hasn’t been stopping much of anything. Now, I know the Kings played two straight 2-1 games before Edmonton, so they are capable of slowing things down. And Boston could be a little tired after playing Friday. That’s worth considering. But the Kings are going to have to score something themselves eventually, and Boston’s penalty kill hasn’t been perfect. I can see the Bruins winning 4-2, maybe 4-3 if the Kings finally get some offense going. Either way, I like the over 5.5.
Final Picks: Boston Bruins Moneyline (-212) and Over 5.5 Goals
This article was completed on October 16, 2026, before Boston’s game against Anaheim. Betting odds, team records, starting goaltenders, and injury reports may change before puck drop.
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