Game day
Puck dropWho's playing
The line
| Market | AZMango | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | SJ +130 LA -155 | SJ +140 LA -140 fair |
| Puck line | LA -1.5 (+150) | LA covers 37% |
| Total goals | 6.5 | 6.5 · over 50% |
Line: , ESPN. Odds move; check a book before acting. In hockey the moneyline carries the market's view; the puck line is almost always 1.5 goals, with the price doing the work.
5,000 simulated games
- Expected goals
- LA 3.5, SJ 3.0
- 8 in 10 games
- SJ by 3 to LA by 4
- Tied after 60 minutes
- 22%
Advantages Why Kings can win
- Home ice: Kings play at home, with the last line change; home teams win about 54% of NHL games.
- Recent form: average goal margin over the last five games, Kings +0.0, Sharks -1.6.
- Shot margins: Kings have controlled play better (shots for and against, adjusted for opponents), worth about 0.19 goals to them in our ratings.
- Team matchup: where Kings can take advantage. Their shot volume (14th of 32) meets the Sharks shot suppression (30th), so look for them to pile up shots and make the goalie work all night.
- Star matchup: On defense, Brandt Clarke (Kings: 3 G, 7 A in 13 games, 19 min a night) has the edge on Jacob Trouba (Sharks: 2 G, 8 A in 16 games, 23 min a night).
- The betting market agrees: Kings 58% to win on the moneyline, after removing the sportsbooks' margin.
- Simulation: Kings win 2,915 of 5,000 simulated games.
Disadvantages Why Kings may not
- Range of outcomes: in the worst 10% of simulations Kings lose by 3 goals or more.
- Weak spot: Kings rank 26th of 32 in shooting percentage (9.9%).
- Weak spot: Kings rank 26th of 32 in discipline (penalty minutes per game) (10.69).
- Weak spot: Kings rank 25th of 32 in goal differential per game (-0.69).
- Team matchup: where Sharks can push back. Their power play (12th of 32) meets the Kings discipline (26th), so look for them to cash in on the power plays a penalty-prone team hands out. And their shot volume (17th of 32) meets the Kings shot suppression (23rd): a chance to pile up shots and make the goalie work all night.
- Star matchup: In goal, Yaroslav Askarov (Sharks: 0.901 save percentage in 10 starts) has the edge on Darcy Kuemper (Kings: 0.878 in 8); best skater against best skater, Macklin Celebrini (Sharks: 5 G, 11 A in 14 games, 23 min a night) has the edge on Artemi Panarin (Kings: 8 G, 5 A in 13 games, 22 min a night).
- Upset odds: Sharks win 2,085 of 5,000 simulations (42%). A 58% pick still loses about 4 times in 10. About 22% of the simulations went past regulation.
In goal
SJ Sharks
- ExpectedYaroslav Askarov0.901 save %, 10 starts, -1.3 goals saved above average
LA Kings
- ExpectedDarcy Kuemper0.878 save %, 8 starts, -6.0 goals saved above average
"Confirmed" and "Expected" are ESPN's. Starters are usually named at the morning skate or in warmups; until then we expect the team's usual starter, or the backup on the second night of a back-to-back.
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Team news
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Headlines from ESPN and CBS Sports, each linked to the full story. Injuries, lineups, suspensions and coaching news come first. We leave out rumors, gossip about players' private lives and betting promos.
Who's out
SJ Sharks
- Nobody listed out or questionable.
LA Kings
- Sat outAdrian Kempesat out last game
Regulars who sat out a team's last game count as likely out (box scores). Also checked: who played in recent games, ESPN team rosters, ESPN and CBS Sports news. Players out or doubtful are never counted as a strength.
Side by sideStandings
| SJ | LA | |
|---|---|---|
| 7-8-1 | Record | 4-7-2 |
| -0.75 26 | Goal differential/game | -0.69 25 |
| 2.62 27 | Goals per game | 2.77 25 |
| 3.38 21 | Goals allowed | 3.46 23 |
| 47.2% 27 | Shot share | 49.7% 14 |
| 27.1 17 | Shots per game | 28.0 14 |
| 30.4 30 | Shots allowed | 28.3 23 |
| 9.7% 27 | Shooting % | 9.9% 26 |
| 0.901 6 | Save % | 0.889 18 |
| 0.75 12 | Power-play goals/game | 0.62 18 |
| 10.2 22 | Penalty minutes/game | 10.7 26 |
| 57.7% 11 | Faceoffs won | 59.5% 5 |
| +0.04 11 | Strength of schedule | +0.07 9 |
Small numbers are ranks among the 32 NHL teams (1 = best). Records are wins, regulation losses and overtime or shootout losses. Strength of schedule is the average rating of opponents faced, in goals (2026-27 season).
Last 5 meetings
- Kings 4 @ Sharks 5Oct 3, 2026 · OT
- Sharks 4 @ Kings 3Jan 7, 2026 · OT
- Kings 3 @ Sharks 4Nov 20, 2025 · Shootout
- Kings 4 @ Sharks 3Oct 28, 2025
- Sharks 1 @ Kings 8Mar 30, 2025
Your pick
Locks at puck drop · Challenge a friend · All picks · Leaderboard
What changed
Nothing since our first call ().
What if?
Based on market line + adjustments. How it works
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