Detroit vs Los Angeles Prediction 28 January 2026
🔊 The "Kings" are heading slightly north, to Michigan instead of Columbus. There, one of the league's least scoring teams will face a challenge against Detroit. Can the "Red Wings" temporarily climb to the top spot in the East? Let's break down the upcoming NHL regular season matchup.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the past five years, the teams have faced each other 9 times: the Red Wings claimed victory in 4 matches, while the Kings won 5. Notably, the last two meetings at the Little Caesars Arena were won by the hosts, with scores of 5-3 and 5-2.
In the 2025/2026 season, the Red Wings and the Kings played one match. In October, in Los Angeles, the visitors triumphed in a shootout (4-3 SO), despite a stellar performance from Corey Perry. The veteran forward netted two goals in the final two minutes of regular time, pushing the game beyond regulation. The decisive shootout goal was scored by Lucas Raymond.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Detroit Red Wings Team Overview
The Red Wings, with 9 victories in their last 11 games, have solidified their position as second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference. Detroit boasts the league's best point tally over the past ten games (17), tied with Boston, Tampa Bay, and Utah.
Todd McLellan's team also excels on home ice. The Red Wings average 1.37 points per game at Little Caesars Arena, ranking third in the conference. They are currently riding a four-game winning streak at home.
As they approach the Olympic break, Detroit will have to manage without one of their key defensemen, Simon Edvinsson, who is sidelined with a lower-body injury. Recently, the return of Travis Hamonic, who missed a month, has been promising. The 35-year-old defenseman provided an assist against Minnesota (3-4 OT) and contributed to the rout of Winnipeg (5-1).
Match Results: Detroit Red Wings
Los Angeles Kings Team Overview
The Kings' point streak has stretched to five games, although three of those came from losses in overtime or shootouts. However, their last two outings were victories, as Jim Hiller's squad defeated the Rangers (4-3) and St. Louis (5-4 SO). They likely could have extended their streak in Columbus, but their matchup against the Blue Jackets was postponed due to weather conditions.
The Kings remain in the playoff hunt, sitting just outside the wild-card zone with 55 points. Interestingly, they perform better on the road than at home, with only Colorado and Dallas having superior away records in the West. However, the Kings rank second to last in goals scored (130) and third from the bottom in average goals per game (2.60). There's already media speculation about a potential boost from Artemi Panarin, with reports suggesting that the Russian could help propel the team into the playoffs.
In Detroit, Slovenian forward Anze Kopitar might play for the first time in three weeks. The Kings legend joined the team for an extended road trip, but he wasn't included in the lineup against the Blues, and their game in Columbus was rescheduled for March.
Match Results: Los Angeles Kings
⚡️ Key Players
The driving forces behind the Red Wings' offense are Lucas Raymond, the team's top playmaker with 40 assists, and Alex DeBrincat, their leading goal scorer with 27 goals. The Swede has been in impressive form recently, boasting a scoring streak of 4 goals and 5 assists over the last five games. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Red Wings forward Emmitt Finney has registered points in two consecutive games.
The Kings' top performers in terms of scoring are well outside the top 50 league scorers. Adrian Kempe leads with 17 goals and 22 assists, while Swiss forward Kevin Fiala follows with 18 goals and 18 assists. Veteran Corey Perry has been on a roll, collecting points in eight of his last nine games, tallying 3 goals and 7 assists during this stretch.
🥅 Goaltenders
Detroit's last eight victories have come with John Gibson between the pipes. During this period, his save percentage dipped below 90% only once. Notably, against Toronto and Winnipeg, Gibson stopped 56 of 58 shots faced. Remarkably, against the Jets, Gibson matched an NHL record set 82 years ago by becoming only the second player in league history to achieve two eight-game winning streaks in his debut season with a new team.
Over the course of the season, the Kings' goaltending has been inconsistent. Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg have alternated between strong and subpar performances. The Swede has managed an impressive save rate of 90.7%, but his appearances have been infrequent-just four times since the New Year. Nevertheless, under the Canadian's watch, the Kings finally snapped their losing streak.
Editor's Prediction
Unlike Los Angeles, Detroit scores with impressive consistency, averaging a solid 3.11 goals per game this season. The Red Wings have netted at least three goals in four of their last five matches.
In head-to-head clashes with the Kings, Detroit also proves to be prolific, scoring at least three times in seven of their last eight encounters. The Wings have a chance to climb to the top spot in the Eastern Conference, which should serve as strong motivation - we predict that Detroit's team total over 2.5 goals will hit once again.
Betting Tips: Detroit Red Wings - Los Angeles Kings
in 6 of last 7 away games (NHL).in 9 of last 10 games (NHL).in 8 of last 9 home games (NHL).in 8 of last 9 games (NHL).in last 7 games against Los Angeles Kings (NHL).in last 6 games (NHL).in 12 of last 13 games (NHL).in last 9 away games (NHL).
