Two teams that have sprinted out of the gates this season, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Los Angeles Kings clash at the Staples Center for an East-West matchup. The match gets going at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 9, and it is being televised live on Sportsnet.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Los Angeles Kings Odds
The Kings are 11-4 straight up (SU) and have earned 6.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, ranked second in the league in this young season, is a welcome improvement over the 39-43 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Through 15 regular season outings, eight of the team’s games have gone over the total, while six have gone under and just one has pushed. The team is 5-2 SU at home this season.
Los Angeles has converted on 18.9 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated first overall, and it’s successfully killed off 92.6 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, LA has been called for penalties 4.2 times per game this season, a number that’s up a bit from the 3.7 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 9.2 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to kill penalties for 10.2 minutes per matchup this season.
Averaging 31.2 saves per game with a .937 save percentage, Jonathan Quick (9-3-1) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Kings this season. If the Kings decide to rest him, however, head coach John Stevens might go with Darcy Kuemper (2-2-2 record, .908 save percentage, 2.53 goals against average).
Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown will both be focal points for the Kings. Kopitar (19 points) has tallied eight goals and 11 assists and has recorded multiple points five times this year. Brown has seven goals and eight assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in seven contests.
Tampa Bay is 11-4 straight up (SU) and has earned 5.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 15 regular season outings, nine of its games have gone over the total, while six have gone under and none have pushed. As a road team so far, Tampa Bay is 4-2 SU.
Tampa Bay currently touts the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 28.8 percent of its extra-man chances in the 2017-18 season. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 10th overall and it’s successfully killed off 82.5 percent of all penalties.
Tampa Bay’s skaters have been penalized 4.7 times per game this season. Last year, that number was at 4.3, which was the third-worst mark in the league. After serving an average of 10.7 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s had to kill penalties for 10.1 minutes per outing this year.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (.924 save percentage and 2.52 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Tampa Bay. Vasilevskiy is averaging 31.1 saves per game and owns an 11-2-1 record.
Steven Stamkos (seven goals, 18 assists) has been one of the top offensive facilitators for the visiting Lightning.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Los Angeles Kings Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Kings, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- The over has hit in four of Los Angeles’ last five games.
- Five of Tampa Bay’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 4-1 in those games.
- The Kings this season have tallied the sixth-most hits per game (24.1).
