Lightning vs. Kings NHL Predictions, Picks and Odds - Dec. 18

Both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Los Angeles Kings are coming off a loss, heading into their meeting at Benchmark International Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET. The sportsbooks have made the Lightning solid favorites at -205 on the moneyline, and the Kings are at +170.

Tampa Bay lost 5-2 at home its last time out on Dec. 15 against the Florida Panthers. Brayden Point had two points (two assists) for the Lightning.

Los Angeles lost 3-2 on the road against the Florida Panthers in its last game on Dec. 17. Four Kings skaters recorded one point each in that outing, including Alex Laferriere (one assist) and Brandt Clarke (one assist).

As hockey play continues, get ready for the matchup by checking out which club we predict will capture the win in Thursday's game.

Lightning vs. Kings Predictions & Pick

For the upcoming contest between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Los Angeles Kings, computer-derived moneyline, over/under, and score predictions are below, per Dunkel Index.

• Prediction: Kings 2 - Lightning 1
• Pick OU: Under 5.5 (Dunkel projecting 3.08 goals)
  

Pick with the best in the business! Get free picks for every game, every week at the Dunkel Index.

Lightning vs. Kings Moneylines

Take a peek below at the latest moneylines for the Lightning-Kings game.

• Favorite: Lightning (-205)
• Underdog: Kings (+170)

Lightning Betting Insights

• The Lightning are 13-12 when listed as a moneyline favorite this season.
• Tampa Bay has had moneyline odds set at -205 or shorter in only one game this season, and lost.
• The implied moneyline probability for this game says the Lightning have a 67.2% chance to win.
• In 17 games this season, Tampa Bay and its opponent have combined for more than 5.5 goals.

Kings Betting Insights

• The Kings have been listed as an underdog 10 times this season, and won four of those games.
• Los Angeles has played as an underdog of +170 or more one time this season and won.
• Bookmakers have implied, given the moneyline set for this matchup, that the Kings have a 37.0% chance to win.
• Los Angeles has played 14 games this season with over 5.5 goals.

Lightning Key Stats

• Tampa Bay's 106 total goals (3.2 per game) rank eighth in the NHL.
• The Lightning have given up 87 total goals (2.6 per game), ranking fifth in NHL action for the fewest goals against.
• It has the league's fourth-best goal differential at +19.
• The 17 power-play goals the Lightning have put up this season rank 22nd in the NHL (on 104 power-play chances).
• Tampa Bay is 24th in the league with a 16.35% power-play conversion rate.
• The two shorthanded goals the Lightning have scored this season rank 15th among NHL squads.
• Tampa Bay kills 85.05% of opponent power plays, the second-best penalty-kill percentage in the league.
• Tampa Bay has the 30th-ranked faceoff win percentage in the NHL, at 46.2%.
• The Lightning shoot 11.6% as a team (seventh in the league).

Kings Key Stats

• With 85 goals (2.6 per game), Los Angeles has the league's 30th-ranked offense.
• The Kings have one of the top defenses in the league, conceding 84 total goals (2.6 per game), second in the league.
• Its +1 goal differential ranks 16th in the league.
• The Kings have 15 power-play goals (on 102 chances), 26th in the NHL.
• Los Angeles has the league's 31st-ranked power-play percentage (14.71%).
• The Kings lead the NHL in shorthanded goals with six.
• At 79.82%, Los Angeles has the 20th-ranked penalty-kill percentage in the league.
• At 49.7%, Los Angeles has the NHL's 17th-ranked faceoff win rate.
• The Kings' 9.1% shooting percentage is 31st in the league.