Tampa Bay Lightning vs LA Kings Prediction NHL Picks 1/4/25

In this article, we will formulate a Tampa Bay Lightning vs LA Kings prediction for this NHL game on Saturday, January 4th at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL matchup. 

Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview

The Tampa Bay Lightning are 20-13-2 this season after they lost to San Jose by a score of 2-1 in their last game. Tampa Bay cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second period, but couldn’t find any more offense in the loss. The Lightning recorded 25 shots on goal, won 55.3% of the face-offs, and went 0-2 on the power play in the game. Tampa Bay got their lone goal from Cirelli, while Vasilevskiy stopped 23 out of 25 shots in the loss. 

Prior to that game, the Lightning lost to the Canadiens by a score of 5-2 but did beat the Rangers by a score of 6-2 before that. Tampa Bay has lost three of their last five games and they are currently sitting at 42 points. Tampa Bay has scored 3.86 goals per game and they have allowed 2.80 goals against per game, while also going 26.4% on the power play and 81.8% on the penalty kill this season. Nikita Kucherov has led Tampa Bay with 17 goals, 37 assists, and 114 shots on goal, while Brayden Point added 23 goals, 20 assists, and 73 shots on goal. Andrei Vasilevskiy is 16-11-1 with a 2.39 goals against average and a .914 save percentage this year. 

LA Kings Betting Preview

The Los Angeles Kings are 22-10-5 this year after they defeated the Devils by a score of 3-0 in their last game. Los Angeles scored once in the second and twice in the third for the shutout win. The Kings were outshot by a total of 33-24, won 37.5% of the face-offs, and went 0-3 on the power play in the game. Los Angeles got goals from Byfield, Kempe, and Lee, while Kuemper stopped all 33 shots that he faced. 

Prior to that win, the Kings defeated the Flyers by a score of 5-4 and the Oilers by a score of 4-3. Los Angeles has won four of their last six games and they are second in the Pacific standings with 49 points. Los Angeles has scored 3.14 goals per game and they have allowed 2.54 goals against per game, while also going 16.1% on the power play and 82.3% on the penalty kill this season. Anze Kopitar has led LA with 12 goals, 27 assists, and 48 shots on goal, while Adrian Kempe has added 18 goals, 18 assists, and 102 shots on goal this year. Darcy Kuemper is 10-2-5 with a 2.29 goals against average and a .916 save percentage this season. 

Why the Kings will beat the Lightning 

• The Kings have won each of their last eight home games.
• The Lightning have lost four of their last five games following a road loss.
• The Kings have covered the puck line in six of their last seven home games.
• The Lightning have lost the second period in each of their last three games at Crypto.com Arena.

Why the Lightning will beat the Kings

• The underdogs have won three of the Lightning’s last four games.
• The Kings have lost two of their last three games as favorites against opponents on a losing streak.
• The Lightning have covered the puck line in each of their last five games as underdogs against Pacific Division opponents.
• The Kings have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six night games at Crypto.com Arena against opponents on a losing streak.

Total Goals Facts

• Five of the Kings’ last six night games following a win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Four of the Lightning’s last five road games following a road loss have gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3’ market has hit in each of the Lightning’s last 19 Saturday night games.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in 12 of the Kings’ last 13 games against opponents on a losing streak.

Los Angeles Kings Player Prop Facts

• Anze Kopitar has recorded at least one point in eight of his last nine appearances against the Lightning at Crypto.com Arena.
• Phillip Danault has recorded an assist in each of his last five appearances.
• Adrian Kempe has scored at least one goal in five of his last six home appearances against Atlantic Division opponents.

Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts

• Jake Guentzel has scored at least one goal in five of the Lightning’s last six road games.
• Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one point in each of the Lightning’s last 10 Saturday games against Pacific Division opponents.
• Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one assist in each of the Lightning’s last seven games at Crypto.com Arena.

Tampa Bay Lighting vs LA Kings Prediction 

Los Angeles comes into this matchup looking for their fourth straight win and they are 13-2-1 at home this season. The Kings haven’t been great offensively, but they are allowing just 2.54 goals against per game. Tampa Bay is coming off of a bad loss against San Jose in their last game, but they are 9-7-1 on the road. The Lightning have also been very solid on defense this season, allowing 2.80 goals against per game, so we are probably looking at a lower-scoring game. I do lean towards the Kings at home, especially with their record on home ice, but I like the under even better.