- The Los Angeles Kings are favored at home against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night
- Los Angeles is locked into a playoff berth as the Pacific’s 2-seed, while Calgary has been eliminated
- Take a look below for our Flames vs Kings prediction with odds and projected lineups
The Los Angeles Kings host the Calgary Flames at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday night in a Pacific Division clash with minimal playoff implications. The Kings vs Flames odds have shifted slightly, with both teams expected to rest several regulars.
Los Angeles (48-24-9, 105 points) has locked up second place in the Pacific Division and home ice advantage in their first-round matchup with Edmonton. Calgary (40-27-14, 94 points) mounted a spirited late-season playoff push but fell just short and was eliminated earlier this week. Our Flames vs Kings prediction factors in the motivational discrepancies between the squads.
The action is scheduled to get underway at 9:30 pm ET, with coverage available on ESPN.
Flames vs Kings Prediction
The biggest consideration for a Flames vs Kings prediction is the roster construction for each side. The Kings are expected to sit out multiple veterans, including Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and potentially Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore. Avoiding injury risk is the top priority for a team with bigger goals ahead.
Calgary will also opt to rest some regulars, with Jonathan Huberdeau, Rasmus Andersson, Martin Pospisil and others likely out. In their place, the Flames will give several AHL call-ups and youngsters the chance to make their NHL debuts, including top prospect Zayne Parekh.
While the influx of youth and new faces should provide energy for Calgary, it doesn’t necessarily translate to more scoring. The Flames rank 29th in the league at just 2.65 goals per game, and that average dips to 2.43 on the road. Generating offense has been a season-long struggle.
Defensively, the Kings have been one of the NHL’s stingiest outfits. They rank second in both goals allowed (2.44) and shots allowed (25.5) per game. Calgary isn’t far behind, sitting 16th in goals allowed (2.90). With both teams starting experienced backup goalies in Dan Vladar and David Rittich, goals could be at a premium.
Dan Vladar vs David Rittich Stats
The head-to-head matchups this season also point to a low-scoring affair. Calgary won both prior meetings in tight, defensive contests: 3-1 on home ice in February and 2-1 at Crypto.com Arena in late March. Extending that trend, 10 of the Flames’ last 11 road games against Pacific foes have gone under the total.
Ultimately, with the juice on the Over, the value is on Under 5.5, currently listed at even-money +100 odds. The Kings are built to clamp down defensively at home, while the Flames have consistently struggled to score on the road. With depleted lineups and limited urgency on both sides, a tight-checking game appears likely.
Pick:
Kings vs Flames Odds
Here are the latest Flames vs Kings odds from Caesars Sportsbook:
Odds as of April 17, 2025 at 6:37 pm PT at Caesars Sportsbook.
The Kings are listed as solid -178 home favorites on the moneyline. A $178 bet on LA would return $100 in profit if they prevail, while a $100 wager on the +150 underdog Flames would net $150 in winnings.
The +1.5 puckline on Calgary comes with -190 odds, meaning they must either win outright or lose by a single goal to cover the spread. Conversely, the Kings are +158 to win by 2+ goals. The 5.5-goal over/under is juiced slightly to the under at +100.
Flames vs Kings Projected Lineups
Flames Projected Lineup
Forwards
Aydar Suniev – Nazem Kadri – Adam Klapka
Blake Coleman – Mikael Backlund – Matt Coronato
Yegor Sharangovich – Morgan Frost – Joel Farabee
Dryden Hunt – Sam Morton – Ryan Lomberg
Defense
MacKenzie Weegar – Daniil Miromanov
Kevin Bahl – Zayne Parekh
Brayden Pachal – Hunter Brzustewicz
Goaltenders
Dan Vladar
Dustin Wolf
Injuries and Scratches:
Rasmus Andersson, Jonathan Huberdeau, Kevin Rooney, Jake Bean, Joel Hanley, Martin Pospisil, Connor Zary (lower body)
Kings Projected Lineup
Forwards
Andrei Kuzmenko – Phillip Danault – Jeff Malott
Warren Foegele – Quinton Byfield – Alex Turcotte
Kevin Fiala – Samuel Helenius – Alex Laferriere
Taylor Ward – Trevor Lewis
Defense
Vladislav Gavrikov – Jordan Spence
Joel Edmundson – Brandt Clarke
Kyle Burroughs – Michael Anderson
Goaltenders
David Rittich
Darcy Kuemper
Injuries and Scratches:
Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Adrian Kempe, Trevor Moore, Akil Thomas, Jacob Moverare, Tanner Jeannot (undisclosed)
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The Calgary Flames will face off against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night in what is sure to be an exciting matchup. Both teams are coming off of wins in their previous games and will be looking to continue their winning streaks.
The Flames currently sit in third place in the Pacific Division with a record of 14-10-5, while the Kings are in sixth place with a record of 11-13-6. Despite their lower standing, the Kings have been playing well as of late and will be a tough opponent for the Flames.
In terms of lineups, the Flames will likely start Jacob Markstrom in goal, who has been solid for them all season. Their top line of Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Lindholm, and Matthew Tkachuk has been producing consistently and will be a key factor in this game. The Kings will likely start Jonathan Quick in goal and will look to their top scorers Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe to lead the way offensively.
As for predictions, this game could go either way as both teams have been playing well recently. The Flames have the edge in terms of overall talent and depth, but the Kings have been playing with a lot of energy and determination. It could come down to which team can capitalize on their scoring chances and play solid defense.
In terms of odds, the Flames are currently favored to win this game with odds of -150, while the Kings are the underdogs with odds of +130. This means that a $150 bet on the Flames would win you $100, while a $100 bet on the Kings would win you $130.
Overall, this game is shaping up to be a close and competitive matchup between two evenly matched teams. Fans can expect a fast-paced and physical game with plenty of scoring opportunities. Be sure to tune in on Thursday night to see who comes out on top in this exciting showdown between the Flames and Kings.
