The set-up: The Kings finally make their first appearance of the second half and with their patience, they're awarded a tough game at home vs. the Lightning, who will be eager to get back into the winners circle after falling in Dallas on Monday night. LA has lost eight of ten and four in a row and with a game tomorrow night in Arizona, this also sets up as a "look ahead" for the home side.

The pick: Tampa edged LA 4-3 at home back on January 14th, so it's not going to take anything lightly here either. The Bolts enjoy a night off before back-to-back road contests at Anaheim and San Jose after this, which makes tonight's game even more important in my opinion. If you don't mind laying road chalk, this play on the visitors looks solid to me.

1* FREE PLAY on the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Lightning -1.5

Wednesday night in the grieving city of L.A. we get the Tampa Bay Lightning (29-15-5) taking on the L.A. Kings (18-27-5). Tampa is a -220 ML favorite to win and the O/U is set at 6. Tampa has no injuries of note, for LA Blake Lizotte is still out.

Probable goalies in this one, for Tampa Bay Andrei Vasilevskiy (24-9), 2.55 GAA, with a 0.917 Save%, has not lost in regulation since mid-December, the 25 year old is one of the hottest goalies in the NHL. He'll take on Jonathan Quick (11-17), 3.01 GAA, with a 0.896 Save% tied for 27th in the league.

Tampa comes into this matchup averaging 3.57 GPG and allowing 3.12 GAA. The Kings on the other hand come in averaging 2.5 GPG, and allowing 2.86 GA. The Lightning are 28/30 on the penalty kill the past 9 games while the Kings are 4/12 on the power play over their last 5. 

Kucherov has 5 goals in the last 4 and leads the Lightning with 56 points, plus Stamkos is heating up too, he has 20 goals now, and a hot Stamkos is never a good thing for any opponent. The Kings DO NOT have a checking line that can match up with the Lightning's top 2 lines.

Some trends to consider. Los Angeles are 1-7 SU in their last 8 games, 1-4 SU in their last 5 games at home, and 1-4 SU in their last 5 games this season. Tampa Bay are 12-3 SU in their last 15 games, are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games against Los Angeles, are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games this season, and are 21-7 in their last 28 vs. Pacific.

The Lightning have won the last 7 head to head matchups vs. LA, including a 4-3 shootout victory in Tampa Jan. 14th, and a 6-2 win in L.A. last year. Play on the PLUS money and grab the Bolts on the puckline. (-1.5)

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Wednesday 5* NHL PL Play