The Florida Panthers are set to host the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night in the NHL. These teams are moving in opposite directions of late, with the Panthers starting to find their footing and the Kings struggling. Here, I’ve broken this game down from all angles, and you can keep scrolling to find out what I like in the betting markets as I make my Kings vs Panthers prediction.
Our Kings vs Panthers Pick
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Los Angeles Kings vs Florida Panthers
- Date & Time: Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent form
The Florida Panthers have been more consistent lately, winning four of their last five games. A 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars saw Brad Marchand lead the attack with two goals and one assist, while goalie Sergei Bobrovsky recorded a shutout. The Panthers followed that up with a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning and they will try to extend their two-game winning streak here.
The Los Angeles Kings have stumbled lately, dropping their last three contests. They have scored just four goals in that stretch. Offense has been an issue for Los Angeles, and they will have their hands full trying to fix that against the aggressive defense of the Panthers.
Goaltending
Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky has been dependable with three shutouts this season, highlighted by a recent shutout of the Stars. His experience and ability to make big saves on demand give the Panthers a defensive edge in this matchup. On the other side, the Kings face a significant challenge with starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper having been placed on injured reserve after taking an upper-body injury. Backup Anton Forsberg has been called into action, but his lack of consistent NHL playing time introduces uncertainty in net for Los Angeles.
Key skaters
Sam Reinhart has been one of Florida’s top offensive catalysts, contributing consistently with goals and assists. Brad Marchand leads the Panthers in both of those categories, though, and he will be counted on to make an impact here. For the Kings, key contributors such as Kevin Fiala and Adrian Kempe have carried much of the offensive load. However, Los Angeles ranks toward the lower end of the league in shooting percentage, indicating struggles in finishing plays and converting scoring chances.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Brad Marchand (Panthers) | |
| Sam Reinhart (Panthers) | |
| Kevin Fiala (Kings) |
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Panthers won the first meeting between these teams this season by a score of 5-2 in Los Angeles.
- The Panthers are just 10-22 on the puckline so far this season.
- The Kings are 12-20 on the puckline this year.
