Los Angeles Kings vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, 12/18/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Los Angeles Kings vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025

Location: Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL

TV: WXPX-TV

Odds/Point Spread: Kings (+106) Lightning (-128)

The Los Angeles Kings (14-9-9) are on their way to Amalie Arena on Thursday where they will try to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning (18-12-3). The odds on this game have the Kings at +106 and the Lightning are sitting at -128. The over/under is 6.5.

The Los Angeles Kings will need a bounce back game after taking a 4-1 loss against the Stars in their previous outing. The Kings could have played much better offensively in the loss. In the game, they scored on 1 of the 28 shots they launched. Moreover, they had 3 chances on the power play and scored 1 goal. Los Angeles amassed 6 penalty minutes in this contest.

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While playing at even strength, the Kings let the opposition score 60 goals while earning 69 on offense. Los Angeles Kings opponents have recorded 105 power play opportunities (11th in pro hockey) and have a total of 21 goals in those attempts. Concerning their scoring, the Los Angeles Kings have racked up 83 goals (31st in the NHL) this year and have allowed 81. Los Angeles has attempted 905 shots and has a shooting percentage of 9.2%. For the season, they have accumulated 37 points and their points percentage is sitting at .578. The Kings so far have had 853 shots tried against them and have earned a save percentage of .905. Los Angeles has accumulated 98 power play chances and they have scored 14 goals out of those chances, garnering them a percentage of 14.29%.

The player between the pipes for this game is Pheonix Copley. Copley has been involved in 77 matchups throughout his pro hockey career. He has earned an overall mark of 44-16-8 and he has gotten the start in 69 games. Opponents have notched 202 goals versus Copley in his pro career and his goals against average per game is 2.93. Copley has seen 1,988 shot attempts taken against him and has garnered 1,786 saves. His save percentage is at .898 for his 4,081 minutes played. In his career, Copley has compiled 37 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .536.

In their last contest, Tampa Bay faced the Panthers in a matchup where the Lightning were on the wrong end of the score by a tally of 5-2. The Lightning notched 2 goals out of the 28 shots on goal they pursued. They had 5 opportunities on the power play in this matchup but weren't able to score a goal.

Tampa Bay has put up 919 shots (14th in professional hockey) and has earned a shot percentage of 11.53%, while allowing their opponents 892 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 85.05% on their oppositions 107 chances on the power play, and their save percentage is 90.2%. They have a total of 104 opportunities on the power play and they have accumulated a power play rate of 17.31%. The Lightning have earned 88 goals at even strength and 18 goals (20th in the NHL) while having more men on the ice. They have allowed 87 goals to be scored by of a combination of 71 goals at even strength and 16 goals while they were shorthanded. For the year, the Tampa Bay Lightning have accounted for 106 goals, 39 points, and a points percentage of .591.

Across the rink you will find Andrei Vasilevskiy protecting the net. He has racked up 15,238 stops out of 16,616 shots tried, giving him a save % of .917. Vasilevskiy holds a lifetime record of 342-169-37 and has participated in 559 games. He has made the start in 549 games and his ice time sits at 28,667 minutes. Vasilevskiy's quality start percentage is 58.3% and he has qualified for 320 quality starts in his career. Teams are averaging 2.51 goals per game and he has surrendered 1,378 goals in total.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (-128)

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