NHL Match Prediction: Los Angeles Kings vs Buffalo Sabres
Los Angeles Kings
Buffalo SabresMore picks
- Period 3: No draw 1.28 lost
Match result
Los Angeles Kings 2:3 Buffalo Sabres (0:1, 1:1, 1:1)
The Buffalo Sabres secured a 3:2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in their NHL matchup. The period breakdown ended 0:1, 1:1, and 1:1. Our prediction, Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No, proved successful as only one team scored in the opening frame, meaning the bet won.
Our prediction: Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No at 1.41 — the bet won.
Our prediction: Period 3: No draw at 1.28 — the bet lost.
Los Angeles host Buffalo at Crypto.com Arena on October 31 at 16:00 Eastern. The Kings are 14th in the Western Conference with 10 points from 12 games, 11 behind Minnesota, and need points to climb away from the conference’s bottom places.
Los Angeles: scoring bursts, defensive costs
Recent results and home context
The Kings have won three of their last five games. They split four road games; their only home fixture in that stretch was a 6–5 win over Ottawa. They also scored six against the Rangers but managed just one against New Jersey and Chicago.
Strengths, weaknesses and workload
Los Angeles scored and conceded in all five games, with two finishing above 5.5 goals. Their season totals of 34 goals for and 42 against leave a goal differential of minus eight.
There is no back-to-back immediately before Buffalo. Travel and workload remain relevant factors.
Personnel and the crease
Quinton Byfield is out with an upper-body injury and has no return date. Mats Zuccarello has returned after missing three games. Darcy Kuemper is expected in goal but is not confirmed for this fixture. Peter Laviolette recently praised the line of Alex Laferriere, Artemi Panarin and Kempe, though it is not a confirmed starting unit.
- Ottawa Senatorshome6:5
- Chicago Blackhawksaway1:2
- New York Rangersaway6:3
- New Jersey Devilsaway1:3
- New York Islandersaway3:2
Buffalo: road recovery with uneven defending
Two wins after three defeats
Three straight losses were followed by a 2–0 victory in San Jose and a 7–6 win in Anaheim. Their four away games in this sequence produced two wins and two defeats.
Scoring profile and travel
The Sabres scored in all five games and kept one clean sheet; three totals exceeded 5.5 goals. Their seven goals in Anaheim accounted for almost half their output over that stretch, making that result a poor baseline for their attack.
Buffalo have recently played in California.
Absences and returning options
Konsta Helenius, Justin Danforth and Jiri Kulich are unavailable, while Sam Carrick returns after two weeks out. Matt Grzelcyk remains day-to-day. Conor Timmins has not resumed team practice, and Alex Lyon has no return date despite progress in recovery.
Buffalo’s starting goalie, complete lineups, tactical systems, suspensions, goalie save percentages and power-play and penalty-kill rates remain unconfirmed.
- Anaheim Ducksaway7:6
- San Jose Sharksaway2:0
- Washington Capitalsaway3:4
- Philadelphia Flyershome1:3
- Montreal Canadiensaway3:4
Recent meetings favour the visitors
Buffalo have won six of the ten meetings over five years, including the latest three. Those ended 0–1, 1–4 and 1–4, leaving Los Angeles with two goals combined. The available head-to-head record offers less support for a high total than the teams’ latest wins.
- 21.03.2026Los Angeles Kings1:4Buffalo SabresNHL
- 30.01.2026Buffalo Sabres4:1Los Angeles KingsNHL
- 21.11.2024Los Angeles Kings0:1Buffalo SabresNHL
- 10.10.2024Buffalo Sabres1:3Los Angeles KingsNHL
- 14.02.2024Buffalo Sabres7:0Los Angeles KingsNHL
Coaching emphasis versus recent results
Laviolette highlighted two goals scored during one shift late in the opening period of an earlier win over Washington and praised Kuemper. The Kings have converted short spells of pressure into scoring bursts, but conceding five to Ottawa contrasts with his emphasis on disciplined, restrictive hockey.
Line-ups
Los Angeles Kings
Substitutes: 35. Darcy Kuemper
Coach: Peter Laviolette
Buffalo Sabres
Substitutes: 92. Colten Ellis
Coach: Lindy Ruff
Our first-period pick
Our bet is Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No 1.41. Buffalo are missing forwards Konsta Helenius and Jiří Kulich, as well as Justin Danforth. Sam Carrick returns after two weeks out, but those absences reduce the visitors’ attacking options and could limit their early pressure. Los Angeles are also without Quinton Byfield, weakening their own forward depth.
Darcy Kuemper is expected to start for the Kings; his coach’s praise supports confidence in him, rather than a claim that the defence is secure. Both teams played on October 29, and Buffalo now face another road fixture. That schedule adds a fatigue concern, although it does not guarantee a slow start. No first-period scoring splits are available, so this is a cautious personnel-based selection, not a proven period trend. A possible first-period score is 1–0 to Los Angeles.
The betting verdict
Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No 1.41 needs only one side to remain scoreless at the first intermission. Reduced forward depth makes that the preferred opening-period scenario, but confidence should remain measured.
Chances by market estimate
Team form
- Ottawa Senatorshome6:5
- Chicago Blackhawksaway1:2
- New York Rangersaway6:3
- New Jersey Devilsaway1:3
- New York Islandersaway3:2
- Anaheim Ducksaway7:6
- San Jose Sharksaway2:0
- Washington Capitalsaway3:4
- Philadelphia Flyershome1:3
- Montreal Canadiensaway3:4
Standings · Western Conference
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | Goals | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Winnipeg Jets | 14 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 34:47 | 11 |
| 14 | Los Angeles Kings | 13 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 36:45 | 10 |
| 15 | Chicago Blackhawks | 14 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 31:53 | 9 |
Head-to-head
- 21.03.2026Los Angeles Kings1:4Buffalo SabresNHL
- 30.01.2026Buffalo Sabres4:1Los Angeles KingsNHL
- 21.11.2024Los Angeles Kings0:1Buffalo SabresNHL
- 10.10.2024Buffalo Sabres1:3Los Angeles KingsNHL
- 14.02.2024Buffalo Sabres7:0Los Angeles KingsNHL
About the match
- 31 October · 16:00 New York
- Venue: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
Odds
odds before kick-off
A narrow away lean in the market
Buffalo are slight favourites in regulation-time 1X2, with a market probability of 41%, compared with 36% for Los Angeles and 23.1% for the draw. The away price has shortened over 24 hours while the home price has drifted.
Over 5.5 goals carries a 53.9% probability, with no notable line movement. BTTS (both teams to score) is favoured at 88.2%, although its price has drifted.
Our prediction
- Market
- Period 1: Both Teams To Score - No
- Odds
- 1.42
- Odds at prediction
- 1.41
- Confidence
- Our estimate
- 65%
- Market estimate
- 65%
- Stake amount
- 100 $ · 1.42
- Potential win
- 42 $
- Odds at kick-off
- 1.42
- Status
- won
- Profit
- +42 $
