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Wild vs. Kings prediction: Los Angeles favored to win Saturday's NHL matchup [1/3/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Jason Bevilacqua, Head of Content and Communities
Get Minnesota Wild vs Los Angeles Kings predictions for NHL Saturday.
The Los Angeles Kings will square off with the Minnesota Wild, in what is expected to be a tight NHL game, at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, beginning at 9:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' proven NHL model gives the Kings a slight edge with a 52% win probability over the Wild.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Saturday's Wild vs. Kings matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Wild vs. Kings prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using powerful machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Saturday's NHL game between the Wild and Kings 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model currently gives the Kings a 52% chance of defeating the Wild.
According to our model, the Wild (+1.5) have a 68% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of 5.5 goals has a 52% chance of staying under.
Wild vs. Kings odds
We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Wild | Kings |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-230) | -1.5 (+195) |
| Moneyline | +106 | -122 |
| Total | o5.5 (-105) | u5.5 (-112) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Wild vs. Kings picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Kings -1.5 | +195 |
| Moneyline | Wild | +106 |
| Total | Under 5.5 | -112 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Wild to win.
Wild vs. Kings player props
Who will score a goal in Wild vs. Kings?
According to our model, Kirill Kaprizov is most likely to score an anytime goal in Wild vs. Kings.
Our projections give Kaprizov a 39.2% chance of scoring a goal at Crypto.com Arena, while the star is a 9.0% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Minnesota Wild
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Kirill Kaprizov | 39.2% |
| Matt Boldy | 31.7% |
| Joel Ek | 22.0% |
| Danila Yurov | 18.8% |
| Mats Zuccarello | 16.2% |
Los Angeles Kings
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Adrian Kempe | 30.6% |
| Kevin Fiala | 30.3% |
| Quinton Byfield | 24.4% |
| Alex Laferriere | 24.3% |
| Andrei Kuzmenko | 23.2% |
First goal scorer predictions
Minnesota Wild
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Kirill Kaprizov | 9.0% |
| Matt Boldy | 6.8% |
| Joel Ek | 4.0% |
| Danila Yurov | 3.8% |
| Vladimir Tarasenko | 3.3% |
Los Angeles Kings
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Kevin Fiala | 6.6% |
| Adrian Kempe | 6.2% |
| Quinton Byfield | 5.0% |
| Alex Laferriere | 4.9% |
| Andrei Kuzmenko | 4.2% |
Wild vs. Kings game-day updates and essential details
Saturday's matchup between the Kings and Wild at Crypto.com Arena is scheduled to commence at 9:00 PM ET.
- Who: Minnesota Wild vs. Los Angeles Kings
- Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026
- Time: 9:00 PM ET/6:00PM PT
- Venue: Crypto.com Arena
Conclusion
We predict the Kings, with a 52% win probability, will likely beat the Wild on Saturday.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Wild vs. Kings insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are sourced from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.
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