Lightning vs. Kings Prediction, Odds, Picks - Dec. 18

Updated Dec. 18, 2025 6:12 a.m. ET

Data Skrive

At Benchmark International Arena on Thursday, Dec. 18, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Los Angeles Kings -- led by Nikita Kucherov and Adrian Kempe, respectively -- will go head-to-head at 7 p.m. ET. Here's everything you need to know to know about the Lightning-Kings game, from the puck lined, moneyline, total Over/Under and expert picks, as well as TV channel and streaming information.

Lightning vs. Kings Game Information and TV Channel

When: Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida
TV: ESPN+
Live Boxscore: FOX Sports

Lightning vs Kings Betting Information
Favorite	Puck Line	Favorite Puck Line Odds	Underdog Puck Line Odds	Total	Over Total Odds	Under Total Odds	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline
Lightning	-1.5	136	-162	5.5	-120	100	-192	+160

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Lightning vs. Kings Prediction

ATS Pick: Lightning (- 1.5)
O/U Pick: Over (5.5)
Score Prediction: Lightning 4 - Kings 2

Lightning vs. Kings Betting Insights

Tampa Bay's games this season have gone over this matchup's total of 5.5 goals 17 times.
Los Angeles has played 14 games this season that finished with over 5.5 goals.
These two teams score 5.8 goals per game combined, 0.3 more than this game's total.
Opponents of these teams average 5.2 goals per game combined, 0.3 fewer than this game's total.
The Lightning are eighth in goals scored in the league, and the Kings rank 30th.
The Lightning are fifth in the league in goals conceded, and the Kings are second.

Lightning Stats

The Lightning's 106 total goals (3.2 per game) make them the eighth-best scoring team in the NHL.
Tampa Bay has conceded 87 total goals (2.6 per game), ranking fifth in NHL action in terms of the fewest goals against.
They have the league's fourth-best goal differential at +19.
The 17 power-play goals Tampa Bay has put up this season rank 22nd in the NHL (on 104 chances).
The Lightning's 16.35% power-play conversion rate ranks 24th in the league.
Tampa Bay has scored two shorthanded goals this season.

Lightning Leaders

Name	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	Giveaways	Takeaways	Faceoff Win %
Nikita Kucherov	30	13	29	42	49	9	0%
Jake Guentzel	33	15	18	33	23	13	49.7%
Brandon Hagel	32	18	13	31	39	15	45.7%
Darren Raddysh	27	7	17	24	25	4	-
Anthony Cirelli	29	9	9	18	20	10	47.3%

Lightning Player Props

Kings Stats

With 85 goals (2.6 per game), the Kings have the NHL's 30th-ranked offense.
Los Angeles gives up 2.6 goals per game (84 total), the second-fewest in the league.
With a goal differential of +1, they are 16th in the league.
Los Angeles has 15 power-play goals (26th in NHL) on 102 chances.
The Kings' power-play percentage (14.71) puts them 31st in the league.
Los Angeles has a league-leading six shorthanded goals.