The Los Angeles Kings (18-27-5) host the Tampa Bay Lightning (29-15-5) Wednesday at Staples Center. Puck drop is scheduled for shortly after 10 p.m. ET. We analyze the Lightning-Kings sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Lightning at Kings: Projected starting goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy vs. Jonathan Quick
Vasilevskiy has earned at least one point in 13 straight games between the pipes. He gave up three goals on 35 shots in an overtime loss at the Dallas Stars Monday. He leads the league with 24 wins on the season and has a .917 save percentage and 2.55 goals against average.
Quick took a shootout loss against these Lightning Jan. 14, in his most recent start. He gave up three goals on 38 shots. He’s 11-17-3 on the season with a 3.01 GAA and .896 SV%.
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Lightning at Kings: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 7:45 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Lightning 3, Kings 0
Moneyline (ML)
The LIGHTNING (-208) are an automatic play at higher odds than they should have in this matchup. One of the hottest teams in the NHL, they’re 7-2-1 across their last 10 games, and they’re 14-8-3 on the road for the season. The Kings (+170) are last in the Pacific Division, 2-7-1 across their last 10 games, 11-10-1 at home and on a four-game losing streak.
The Lightning have a league-best plus-37 goal differential through 49 games. The Kings are minus-33 after 50 games. Back the visitors full-heartedly.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Lightning to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout returns a profit of $4.80.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The last game between the two cross-conference opponents went to a shootout. Don’t count on that happening again, as the Lightning are the vastly superior team in every area of the game. Back the LIGHTNING (-1.5, +135) to win by at least 2 goals.
The Kings are 28-22 against the spread overall but just 11-11 on home ice. The Lightning are surprisingly just 19-30 ATS overall and 10-15 on the road. Five of Tampa Bay’s last seven victories came by margins of at least 2 goals.
Over/Under (O/U)
Take the UNDER 5.5 (+105) and count on Vasilevskiy to keep the door closed against a Kings side with just 125 goals scored on the season. The Lightning are 4-6 against the Over/Under across their last 10 games. The Kings are 5-5 over the same stretch.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 184-172
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