Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, and the Los Angeles Kings will do battle against Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena in a cross-country tilt. This one gets started at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, February 25 and it will be televised live on NBC Sports Network.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Odds
With a moneyline of -320, Tampa Bay comes into the matchup as the heavy favorite. The line for the Kings is standing at +260, and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-115 over, -105 under).
Earning moneyline bettors 22.3 units, Tampa Bay is 47-15 straight up (SU) overall thus far. That winning percentage, the NHL’s strongest so far this season, is an improvement compared to what the team managed during last year’s regular season (54-28). Through 62 regular season matches, 31 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and just three have pushed. This year, the team is 25-7 SU at home.
The Lightning currently tout the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has converted on 29.9 percent of their extra-man advantages this year. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked second overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 85.4 percent of all penalties.
Averaging 30.3 saves per game with a .931 save percentage, Andrei Vasilevskiy (27 wins, 11 losses, and four OT losses) has been the primary option in goal for the Bolts this year. If the Bolts, however, decide to rest him, Tampa Bay may go with Louis Domingue (19-4-4 record, .908 save percentage, 2.86 goals against average).
In the other locker room, Los Angeles is 23-38 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 61 regular season outings, 32 of its games have gone under the total, while 28 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the visiting team, the Kings are 11-21 SU.
The Kings have converted on just 14.9 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 30th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 31st overall and it’s successfully killed off 74.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
Jonathan Quick (.896 save percentage and 3.18 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Los Angeles. Quick is averaging 26.6 saves per game and owns an 11-21-5 record.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Predictions
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Lightning, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Two of the Kings’ last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- The total has gone under in three of Tampa Bay’s last five games.
- Four of Los Angeles’ last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-3 in those games.
- The Bolts this season have dished out the eighth-most hits per game in the NHL (25.1).
