Friday night’s Pacific Division game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings carries importance for both clubs as they jockey for position in the Western Conference. The Kings are sitting ninth in the West with 49 points. They host the Ducks, who are 11th with 47 points, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Here, I break down that important matchup in California and give you my Ducks vs Kings prediction on the ice.
Our Ducks vs Kings Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 3/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Anaheim Ducks vs Los Angeles Kings
- Date & Time: Friday, January 16, 2026, 10:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent Form
The Ducks have had ups and downs of late, but their most recent game ended in a positive result, a 3–1 win over the Dallas Stars. That win snapped a nine-game losing streak that had dented their confidence. Goalie Lukas Dostal delivered an important performance, stopping 24 shots to give Anaheim a much-needed win. Cutter Gauthier has paced the offense this season with 40 points, including 20 goals. Even so, Anaheim has surrendered significant offensive pressure, allowing more than 3.5 goals per contest on the campaign.
Los Angeles enters this contest coming off an overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Kings have lost three straight at home and are trending in the wrong direction, with a record of 5–8–4 since early December. Kevin Fiala has been one of the more consistent contributors for Los Angeles, recording 17 goals and 16 assists in 46 games. Adrian Kempe provides additional scoring output, while Quinton Byfield adds size and skill up front. The home team’s offense has sputtered at times, but their defense remains relatively stout compared to many league rivals. They will try to use that to avoid a fifth loss in six games.
Goaltending
Goaltending could be a decisive edge here. Anaheim’s Dostal has shown he can steal games when the Ducks are under siege, yet his save percentage has been hurt with the heavy volume of shots he faces nightly. Los Angeles’ Darcy Kuemper has put up serviceable numbers, yet the collective support in front of him will need to tighten up to reclaim a win on home ice. The Kings have the goaltending edge here, though.
Betting Trends & H2H
- These teams are 1-1 against each other so far this season.
- The home team has won each of the two meetings between these clubs.
- The Ducks are 31-15 to the over through 46 games this season.
- The under is 25-21 in Kings games so far this year.
Ducks vs Kings Model Projection
Final Thoughts
