Los Angeles Kings vs New York Rangers Picks and Predictions for Monday October 26 2026
Los Angeles went into New Jersey on Saturday and barely bothered Jake Allen. Twelve shots on goal. Twelve! The Kings lost 3-1, and that’s a pretty good explanation for why they’ve won only twice this season. Now they’re heading into Madison Square Garden to face a Rangers team that just gave up seven goals in Ottawa. New York has been a mess in its own end lately, but the Kings haven’t shown they can take advantage of anybody’s defensive problems. Somebody is getting a chance to straighten things out Monday.
Los Angeles visits New York at Madison Square Garden on Monday, October 26, 2026. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET, with NHL Network among the listed broadcasts. The betting market is still developing, so my preferred prices are Rangers moneyline at -135 or better and Under 6.5 goals at -115 or better. Those are betting thresholds rather than confirmed available odds. Get the best NBA action with our free NHL picks.
Los Angeles Kings Have to Start Shooting the Puck
The Kings are 2-5-2 after Saturday’s loss to New Jersey. They had finally shown a little life on this road trip, beating Washington 5-2 and the Islanders 3-2 in overtime. Then they managed 12 shots against the Devils and went right back to losing. Los Angeles has scored 21 goals in nine games, which works out to 2.33 per night. That’s not enough, especially when you’re giving up 31 goals at the other end. The Kings have scored more than three goals only twice this season, and both of those games came against teams that gave them plenty of room to operate.
What bothers me about Los Angeles isn’t just the scoring. It’s the lack of pressure. Against New Jersey, the Kings spent too much time defending and never forced Allen to work particularly hard. Scott Laughton gave them a 1-0 lead in the second period, but that was about it. The Devils tied it before the intermission and took over in the third. The Kings have to get more pucks toward the net against New York. The Rangers are dealing with goaltending injuries, and there’s an opportunity here if Los Angeles actually makes the goalie work. But if the Kings show up with another 12-shot performance, it won’t matter who’s in New York’s crease.
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Adrian Kempe has been one of the few consistent offensive contributors, and he extended his scoring streak to four games with an assist Saturday. Laughton has also chipped in during this road trip. Darcy Kuemper is the likely goaltending option after Anton Forsberg started against New Jersey, although that assignment hasn’t been confirmed. Kuemper has already helped Los Angeles win two games on this trip, and the Kings need another solid performance from him. The problem is that he can’t score for them. Los Angeles has to find more offense from its top lines, and it needs to do it against a Rangers defense that has been giving opponents chances.
New York Rangers Need to Stop the Bleeding
New York is 7-5-1 after losing 7-4 in Ottawa on Saturday. The Rangers have now dropped two straight and four of their last five. That’s a rough stretch for a team that was sitting near the top of the Metropolitan Division not long ago. Ottawa scored three times before the Rangers got on the board, and New York spent most of the night trying to climb out of holes. The Rangers did get within one goal twice, but they couldn’t get the stop they needed. That’s becoming a familiar story. The offense can keep them in games, but the defense keeps putting them in trouble.
The Rangers have scored 41 goals through 13 games, so putting the puck in the net hasn’t been the biggest problem. They’re averaging a little over three goals per night. The trouble is the 36 goals allowed, and that number has been climbing. Ottawa scored five before adding two empty-netters, and Toronto had already put five on New York in the previous game. Los Angeles doesn’t have nearly that kind of offensive production, which gives the Rangers a chance to settle things down. They don’t need to play perfect hockey Monday. They just need to stop handing opponents good looks and make the Kings earn their chances.
Alexis Lafrenière scored his ninth goal of the season against Ottawa, while Adam Fox picked up two assists and has been moving the puck well from the blue line. J.T. Miller and Will Cuylle also contributed in the loss. The biggest concern is in goal. Igor Shesterkin is out for the season with a lower-body injury, and Joonas Korpisalo is also sidelined. Dylan Garand played against Ottawa and gave up five goals before the empty-netters. New York doesn’t have the luxury of relying on its usual starter to bail out defensive mistakes. The Rangers need to protect whoever starts Monday, and facing a Kings team averaging only 2.33 goals might be exactly what they need.
Los Angeles Kings vs New York Rangers Picks and Predictions
New York Rangers Moneyline — Take -135 or Better
I’ll take the Rangers if I can get -135 or better. I’m not thrilled about New York’s goaltending situation, and the way Ottawa picked apart its defense Saturday is hard to forget. But Los Angeles just managed 12 shots against New Jersey. That’s the kind of offensive performance that makes me reluctant to back the Kings even against a struggling defense. New York has enough scoring to put two or three past Kuemper, and I think that’s going to be difficult for Los Angeles to match. The Kings could steal this if they finally start shooting and Garand struggles again. At a reasonable price, though, I’ll trust the Rangers’ offense and home ice.
Under 6.5 Goals — Take -115 or Better
I’m going under 6.5, even after watching the Rangers give up seven in Ottawa. That sounds a little strange, but Los Angeles has scored more than three goals only twice in nine games. The Kings have also played several low-scoring games recently, including 3-2 against the Islanders and 3-1 against New Jersey. New York’s defense is shaky, but the Rangers should be able to limit a team that isn’t generating many shots. The danger is New York’s goaltending. If Garand gives up a couple of soft goals early, this could turn into a much higher-scoring game than I’m expecting. Still, I think the Kings will struggle to get past two or three goals. A 3-2 or 4-2 Rangers win makes sense.
Final Picks: New York Rangers Moneyline at -135 or better and Under 6.5 Goals at -115 or better
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