Mammoth Visit LA Looking to Avoid Early Season Hole

The expansion Mammoth make their first-ever trip to Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night, and the Kings are licking their chops. Los Angeles opened their campaign with a statement win and will be eager to feast on a brand-new franchise still finding its legs in the big league. The Mammoth showed flashes in their inaugural opener but ultimately couldn't close, a storyline we expect to see repeated frequently this autumn as they navigate the NHL learning curve.

Kings coach Jim Hiller has his squad rolling with confidence after a solid performance to kick off the season, and the home crowd will be buzzing for another two points against a team they're supposed to handle. LA's depth and experience should overwhelm a Mammoth roster that's still figuring out line chemistry and defensive assignments on the fly. Expansion teams historically struggle on the road early—travel fatigue, hostile barns, and roster uncertainty compound quickly.

The Mammoth will battle hard and likely hang around longer than some expect, but the Kings have too many weapons and too much polish at this stage. Expect LA to control possession, capitalize on mistakes, and pull away in the third period. DarkHorse hasn't published an official pick yet, but this one smells like a comfortable Kings victory at home.