by Dan Adkisson
The LA Kings are set to open the 2022-23 NHL season on October 11th at the Crypto Arena, where they will host the Golden Knights. The season will include a seven-game homestand in March, as well as two road trips each of which will include six games. Tickets have already been on sale since July, but if you are unable to attend the games in person, you’ll want to make sure to catch these games:
October 11th vs Vegas
The first match of the season is sure to be one of the biggest in terms of sports betting revenues, and current NHL betting odds show the Kings as the current favorite to beat their opponents, the Vegas Golden Knights. The Kings are currently priced at -121, whilst the Knights are showing at +100 at the time of writing. The geographical proximity between the Kings and Knights, along with last season’s playoff series, have made the burgeoning rivalry between these two teams a must-watch for fans. The Kings were previously in a lower division to their Las Vegas counterparts, but both teams are now playing in the Pacific Division, making this encounter between the two more exciting than ever. The Kings unexpected success last season has probably contributed strongly to them becoming the favorites in this match, as Vegas missed the playoffs last year amid a torrent of injuries amongst its strongest players.
November 16th vs Edmonton
In decades past, Los Angeles and Edmonton would meet routinely, and a tense game could always be assured.
Interestingly, the two franchises also split the best years of Wayne Gretzky, who was previously the captain of both of these teams. Today, Edmonton is widely seen as having the advantage as their team now hosts the “Gretzky” of the modern era – Connor McDavid. Of course, it’s not just McDavid who will decide the outcome of this game – Leon Draisaitl and the remaining Oilers just eliminated the Kings from the playoffs, blocking their path to the conference finals. In what will be the first of four meetings this season between the two teams, the Kings are sure to be seeking revenge – the big question is, will they earn their vengeance?
December 29th vs Colorado
Most of us would agree that the Kings put on a great show last season, but the Avalanche is often unstoppable, and indeed, it was the Avs who went on to lift the prestigious Stanley Cup at the end of the season. Los Angeles suffered three defeats by the eventual champions with an aggregate score of 16-4, so it would appear that the bookmakers are likely to favor Colorado when the two teams meet again this year. No odds have been released just yet, however, and the two teams have almost three months after the season begins to change their fortunes. This first meeting will be played in the snowy, high-altitude climate of Denver, so if LA can put on a good show at this game, then it will provide a solid indicator of their progress in the 2022 season. It will not be easy, however, as Colorado’s roster is looking stronger than ever this season.
March 20th vs Calgary
Los Angeles must figure they are in with a genuine shot at winning their division this year, so this late-season meeting could easily prove to be one of the most crucial games of their 2022 season; perhaps even having playoff implications. Of course, Calgary and former Kings coach Darryl Sutter claimed the Pacific Division title last season, so this match is sure to be fiercely contested and a guaranteed must-watch. The Kings may have hoped that Calgary would be a weakened force by the start of the 2022 season, as leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk were both due for new contracts. Sutter ensured that his flames were re-signed, of course, so there will be no easy ride for the Kings at the end of the season this year.