LA Kings at Tampa Bay Lightning projected lineups, odds, notes

hockeyroyalty.com

28 January 2023

After beating the Florida Panthers on Friday, the LA Kings visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday in search of their fourth straight win.

Projected Lineups

LA Kings (28-17-6)

Here’s how the Kings skated in their 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers on Friday:

Given the back-to-back situation, it stands to reason that Jonathan Quick will get the start. We could also see Alexander Edler and Brendan Lemieux draw back into the lineup.

Tampa Bay Lightning (31-15-1)

Here’s how the Lightning lined up in their 3-2 win against Boston on Thursday, per Lightning Insider Erik Erlendsson:

Hagel-Point-Kucherov
Cirelli-Stamkos-Killorn
Colton-Paul-Maroon
Namestnikov-Bellemare-Perry

Hedman-Bogosian
Sergachev-Perbix
Cole-Cernak

Vasilevskiy
Elliott

5-on-5

Here’s how the two teams match up at 5-on-5 per Natural Stat Trick

Tampa Bay is among the best teams in the NHL this season, and their 5-on-5 play is a reason why. They’re getting strong goaltending again and have been very good at controlling the scoring chance battle in games.

Special Teams

The Lightning also boasts the second-best power play in the league, as well as an above-average penalty kill.

Betting Odds

Let’s look at the odds, courtesy of Betstamp.

*Note: the odds below are for sports books offered in New York. Refer to available sports books specific to your state.

**Odds as of 8 am ET/5 am PT may have changed since this was published.

The LA Kings come into this one as road underdogs with a few books offering +180. BetRivers has the best price on the Lightning at -200. The total on the game is six in most places, with the Over being a consensus -120 and the Under available at DraftKings at +105. There is a 6.5 out there as well at BetRivers. That Over is even money, while the Under is -118.

Personally, I’m not touching this one. LA has been very good of late, but this is a tough spot to be in deep in their road trip and the second of a back-to-back against one of the best teams in the league. If Brian Elliott were to get the start, I’d be open to a wager on the Kings, but a rested Tampa with Andrei Vasilevsk; I’m going to sit this one out.

News & Notes

Last night’s win over the Florida Panthers, coupled with the Seattle Kraken losing to the Calgary Flames, means the LA Kings are in sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division. The Kraken do have three games in hand.
It’s been a tough season for expected starter Jonathan Quick. To date, he is 8-11-4 with a 3.34 goals-against average and a .884 save percentage. In his last five starts, he is 0-3-2 with a .864 save percentage. Quick’s previous two appearances have been in relief, where he’s given up three goals on 32 shots.
Tampa’s win over Boston earlier this week was their 11th straight win on home ice. In 24 home games this season, the Lightning are 19-4-1.
The Kings have gone three straight games without allowing a power play goal against, and they scored a pair of short-handed goals on Friday.
LA and Tampa met at Crypto.com Arena in late October in what was arguably the Kings’ best game of the season to that point. LA won the game 4-2 and held advantages in shot attempts (60% CF%) and expected goals (64% cGF%) at 5-on-5 per Natural Stat Trick.
Saturday will be the Kings’ fifth game of a six-game road trip. After dropping the first game in Nashville, the Kings have rattled off three straight wins.
Over the last 25 games, the LA Kings have the fourth-lowest PDO (shooting percentage + save percentage), an indication of being a bit unlucky. They have the seventh-lowest shooting percentage during that stretch, and the save percentage remains in the bottom five. During that same number of games, the Tampa Bay Lightning, buoyed by an 11% shooting percentage and .914 save percentage, has the second-highest PDO.

(Main Photo Credit: Mark J. Terrill, AP Photo)