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Los Angeles (14-8-9) at Dallas (21-7-5)
- When: Dec 15 2025, 8:00 PM
- Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- TV: FDSW
Los Angeles vs Dallas NHL Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Dallas -140
Spread: Dallas -1.5 (+185)
Total: 5.5
Dallas Stars Breakdown
Dallas comes home looking slightly annoyed, slightly embarrassed, and fully aware that losing two games in a row feels illegal after how hot they have been. This team went over a month without tasting consecutive losses, so the recent dip has everyone acting like the sky is falling. Relax. This is still a top tier squad that simply forgot how to shoot pucks for a couple of nights.
Against Florida, Dallas generated about as much offense as a Sunday beer league team stuck in traffic. Two shots in the first period is not a strategy, it is a cry for help. Still, the Stars know exactly what went wrong. Fewer perimeter passes, more bodies in front, and a whole lot more chaos around the crease. Expect urgency early and a noticeable jump in tempo.
From a betting angle, Dallas at home as a moneyline favorite around minus one forty makes sense. This is a bounce back spot. Teams with pride, structure, and elite goaltending usually respond fast after being shut out. Dallas should control possession and force Los Angeles to defend for long stretches, which is not where the Kings want to live.
Los Angeles Kings Breakdown
The Kings are doing their best impression of a team allergic to regulation wins. Overtime has basically become part of their brand identity. They are collecting points like loose change on the sidewalk, but finishing games has been a recurring issue. When your offense struggles to crack three goals on most nights, every game becomes a grind.
Los Angeles is perfectly comfortable playing one one hockey for fifty nine minutes and hoping their goalie performs miracles. Darcy Kuemper has been excellent, but asking him to face wave after wave without support is risky business on the road. The Kings are disciplined, structured, and patient, but they also struggle when forced to chase games.
From a betting perspective, this style keeps totals in check and games tight, but it also limits upside. When you rely on overtime as a business model, eventually the clock runs out. Dallas at home is not the place you want to test that theory.
What This Game Looks Like
Expect a slower start, some nervous energy, and then Dallas gradually turning the ice in their favor. The Stars should win the shot battle and finally cash in on sustained pressure. Los Angeles will hang around because that is what they do best, but asking them to win another tight road game feels ambitious.
Prediction
Dallas takes control late and avoids the dreaded three game slide.
Score Prediction: Stars 3, Kings 2
Pick: Dallas (-140)
Total: Under 5.5 (-12)
- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
