Chicago Blackhawks vs Los Angeles Kings Picks and Predictions for Thursday December 4 2025
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The Chicago Blackhawks continue their Western road swing with a tough test at crypto.com Arena, where they’ll face a structured Los Angeles Kings team looking to bounce back from a 3–1 loss to Washington. Chicago sits at 11-9-6 (5-4-3 away), while LA is 12-7-7 (3-5-3 at home) and trying to translate their strong underlying play into more consistent results. Like always, I like to frame this matchup alongside the rest of today’s board through the lens of broader free NHL Picks to see how similar Western Conference favourites are being priced.
Chicago Blackhawks vs Los Angeles Kings – Odds and Game Context
The Kings are sizeable home favourites at about -238 on the moneyline, with the Blackhawks around +195. The total is set at 5.5, with LA -1.5 on the puck line at +120 and Chicago +1.5 at -142.
Those numbers reflect a simple story: LA are the more complete team, particularly defensively, while Chicago’s surge is being driven heavily by one exceptional player in Connor Bedard and a power play that can punish mistakes.
Chicago Blackhawks – Bedard Spark and Defensive Risk
Chicago’s season has been surprisingly competitive for a team still deep in a rebuild. They’re averaging 3.19 goals per game on 25.3 shots, powered almost entirely by Connor Bedard’s 38 points (17G, 21A). He’s already the offensive heartbeat of the franchise, leading in goals, assists, and overall impact, with 4 power-play goals on 91 shots.
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Behind him, the depth is thinner, but the Blackhawks have enough secondary scoring to support a respectable offence. The trade-off is that they give up plenty the other way: they allow 2.89 goals against per game on 30.2 shots against, leaning heavily on Spencer Knight, who has a 2.52 GAA and .917 save percentage, with 8 wins and a shutout.
Special teams are a bright spot:
- Power play: 22.8%
- Penalty kill: 84.4%
That combination keeps them in games even when they’re getting outshot, because they can both convert with the man advantage and survive penalties without too much damage.
Recent form shows they’re competitive but inconsistent: a shootout loss at Vegas, a win over Anaheim, and then tight one-goal losses to Nashville and Minnesota before a 1–0 defeat to Colorado. They’re not getting blown out; they’re just struggling to close against better sides.
Los Angeles Kings – Structure, Depth, and Goaltending
The Kings’ record of 12-7-7 doesn’t quite capture how solid they’ve been as a team. They score 2.62 goals per game on 28.6 shots, and allow exactly 2.62 goals against on 26.0 shots against, which is a classic profile of a structured side that keeps games tight.
Offensively, Adrian Kempe leads with 23 points (9G, 14A), while Kevin Fiala has 10 goals and remains a dangerous threat at even strength and on the power play. Quinton Byfield chips in as a strong playmaker with 15 assists. LA may not have a single Hart-level star, but they roll multiple lines that can control play and generate sustained zone time.
In net, they’re in good hands:
- Darcy Kuemper: 8-5-5, 2.37 GAA, .908 SV%
- Anton Forsberg: 2.69 GAA, .894 SV% in a supporting role
That’s plenty strong enough behind a team that limits shots and plays within its system.
Special teams are more mixed: the power play is just 13.8%, which is underwhelming, but the penalty kill is solid at 80.5%, and they’ve scored 5 shorthanded goals, which shows they’re aggressive even when down a man.
Recent results tell the story of a team that’s usually right there: a 3–1 loss to Washington, OT win over Vancouver, shootout loss to Anaheim, and narrow results against Ottawa and Boston. They rarely get run out of the building, and most games are decided by a single bounce.
Chicago Blackhawks vs Los Angeles Kings – Matchup Breakdown
This game comes down to Bedard vs the Kings’ structure.
- Chicago’s path to an upset is fairly straightforward: Bedard has to be the best player on the ice, the power play needs to cash in, and Knight must hold the fort behind a team that will likely be outshot.
- LA’s path to a home win is about depth and discipline: roll four lines, lean on their shot advantage, and force Chicago to defend for long stretches while limiting Bedard’s time and space.
The numbers point toward LA being able to control the run of play. They’ve got the better defensive metrics, steadier goaltending, and a more reliable five-on-five game. Chicago, meanwhile, is heavily reliant on individual brilliance and special teams.
Given how often LA’s games land in the 3–1 or 3–2 range, this also shapes up as a spot where we could see a lower-scoring, territorial contest rather than a track meet.
Best Picks for Chicago Blackhawks vs Los Angeles Kings
From a betting point of view, I want exposure to the Kings without laying the big moneyline price. Given how often they win by controlling a tight game, there are two angles I like: 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 Blackhawks with the Onyx Odds promo code. Getting the most out of your bets on Blackhawks vs Kings can be done by using the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
- Los Angeles Kings in Regulation – I’m backing LA to take care of business in 60 minutes. Their structured five-on-five play and deeper lineup give them the edge over a Chicago team that leans heavily on one superstar.
- Under 5.5 Goals – Both sides have decent goaltending, and LA’s style tends to drag games into a more conservative rhythm. Chicago’s recent scores (1–0, 4–3, 4–3, 5–3, 4–3 SO) show they can be involved in higher-scoring games, but against this Kings structure, I see more of a 3–1 or 3–2 type of affair.
My projected score: Kings 3 – Blackhawks 2
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