The Los Angeles Kings visit the resurgent Florida Panthers in a cross-conference showdown at Amerant Bank Arena. Florida, coming off a strong road trip and riding hot scoring, looks to extend momentum against a Kings team dealing with key absences and recent skid.
Game Details
Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM ET (4:00 PM PT)
Venue: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida
Broadcast: ESPN+, SportsNet LA (Kings), Bally Sports Florida (Panthers), streaming options available
The Panthers (36 points) hold a wildcard spot in the East with momentum, while the Kings (37 points) sit solidly in the Pacific but have dropped recent games. Florida opened as moderate home favorites, with the total reflecting two structured defenses.
Injury Report
Los Angeles Kings:
Out/IR: Darcy Kuemper (G – head injury, placed on IR)
Day-to-Day: Phillip Danault (C – illness/flu), Quinton Byfield (RW – illness)
Depth players healthy otherwise; goaltending falls to David Rittich or Cam Talbot.
Significant blows to center depth and forward scoring if Danault/Byfield miss.
Florida Panthers:
Day-to-Day/Questionable: Gustav Forsling (D – left arm injury from Dec 15 game vs. TBL)
Out/IR: Cole Schwindt (F – undisclosed)
Monitoring several others (up to seven per reports), but core like Barkov, Reinhart, Bobrovsky available.
Forsling’s status critical for top-pair defense; if out, increased minutes for Ekblad and others.
Recent Team Forms
Florida is surging, while Los Angeles has hit a rough patch.
Los Angeles Kings (lost last three, 3-5-2 in last 10 estimated):
Struggling offensively and defensively lately:
Dec 15: Loss 4-1 at Dallas Stars (outshot, limited chances)
Dec 13: Prior losses in tight games; power play issues noted.
Kings’ vaunted defense leaking more, goaltending questions with Kuemper out.
Florida Panthers (5-1-0 in last six, hot streak):
Dominant recently, especially offensively:
Dec 15: Win 5-2 at Tampa Bay Lightning (Reinhart 2 goals, strong special teams)
Dec 13: Win at Dallas Stars
Road trip: 3-1-0 overall success.
Sam Reinhart leading charge; Sergei Bobrovsky solid in net.
Key Player Matchups
Anze Kopitar (LAK) vs. Aleksander Barkov (FLA): Elite two-way centers. Kopitar’s playmaking vs. Barkov’s Selke-level defense and faceoff dominance.
Sam Reinhart (FLA) vs. Kings Defense (Doughty/Mikey Anderson): Reinhart red-hot (multi-goal games recently) vs. LA’s typically stout blue line, potentially weakened.
Adrian Kempe/Quinton Byfield (LAK, if plays) vs. Panthers Back End: Kings’ speed vs. Florida’s physical D (Ekblad, if Forsling out).
Goaltending: David Rittich/Cam Talbot (LAK) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA) – Bobrovsky’s experience and recent form give edge.
Series History
Earlier this season (Nov 6, 2025 at LA): Panthers won 5-2 (Bobrovsky 24 saves, multi-goal nights).
All-time: Kings lead regular season series slightly (around 25-17-3-2 per records), but Florida has won recent meetings, including 3 of last 4. Games often physical and mid-scoring.
Betting Trends
Key Trends:
Panthers: Strong at home (covering in recent wins); 5-1 SU last 6. Overs hitting with offensive surge.
Kings: Struggling ATS on road recently; unders common with strong defense but low scoring.
Head-to-head: Recent games leaning over 5.5 slightly, but with injuries, caution.
Game Odds
Los Angeles Kings 5.5
Florida Panthers – 142
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, December 16, 2025
