The Los Angeles Kings are set to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning today in their first game of 2026. After a challenging December, where they played 13 games, winning only 4 and losing 9, the Kings are eager to turn their fortunes around in January. Their last outing resulted in a disappointing 5-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on December 29.
The Kings will look to capitalize on their home ice advantage as they face a Lightning team that is coming off a 4-3 overtime victory against the Anaheim Ducks. The matchup promises to be intense, with both teams aiming for a strong start to the new year.
In terms of projected lineups, the Kings are expected to feature:
– Alex Laferriere – Anze Kopitar – Adrian Kempe
– Warren Foegele – Quinton Byfield – Trevor Moore
– Kevin Fiala – Alex Turcotte – Andrei Kuzmenko
– Joel Armia – Samuel Helenius – Corey Perry
Defensively, they will be organized as follows:
– Mikey Anderson – Drew Doughty
– Joel Edmundson – Brandt Clarke
– Brian Dumoulin – Cody Ceci
Darcy Kuemper is projected to be in goal after being activated from injured reserve, while Anton Forsberg is anticipated to back him up.
The Lightning’s anticipated lines include:
– Gage Goncalves – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov
– Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Jake Guentzel
– Zemgus Girgensons – Yanni Gourde – Pontus Holmberg
– Nick Paul – Jack Finley – Oliver Bjorkstrand
On defense, they are expected to field:
– J.J. Moser – Darren Raddysh
– Charle-Edouard D’Astous – Erik Cernak
– Declan Carlile – Max Crozier
In goal, Andrei Vasilevskiy is the expected starter, with Jonas Johansson ready to step in if needed.
A pressing concern for the Kings has been their offensive performance. Despite being solid defensively, averaging just 2.58 goals per game has hindered their competitiveness. So far this season, only four players have surpassed 20 points, with only one reaching over 30. For the Kings to make a push for the playoffs, addressing these offensive challenges is crucial.
Tonight’s game presents a significant opportunity for the Kings to demonstrate their capabilities, especially against a Lightning team with key players like Kucherov, who has tallied 9 points in his last five games. If the Kings can boost their offensive output while maintaining their defensive strength, they’ll have a chance to kick off 2026 on a positive note. A victory here could reinvigorate their season, and predictions lean towards a close match, with an optimistic outlook of a 4-3 win for the Kings.