The Los Angeles Kings (16-13-9) take on the Tampa Bay Lightning (23-13-3) in NHL action on Thursday, starting at 7 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena and broadcast on ESPN+. The Kings are eighth in the Western Conference and the Lightning rank third in the Eastern Conference.
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Kings vs. Lightning: Jan. 1 Viewing Options
- Date: Thursday, January 1, 2026
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- How to watch on TV: ESPN+
- Location: Los Angeles, California
- Venue: Crypto.com Arena
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)
Kings' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 2.58 | 29th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.55 | 2nd |
| Shots | 28.1 | 16th |
| Shots Allowed | 26.9 | 9th |
| Power Play % | 14.41% | 32nd |
| Penalty Kill % | 78.29% | 22nd |
Lightning's 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.31 | 5th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.64 | 4th |
| Shots | 27.4 | 20th |
| Shots Allowed | 26.8 | 8th |
| Power Play % | 16.67% | 24th |
| Penalty Kill % | 84.85% | 3rd |
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Kings vs. Lightning Top Players
Kings
- Adrian Kempe is one of Los Angeles' leading contributors this season with 32 points. He has averaged 0.3 goals per game, shooting 11.8%.
- Kevin Fiala has 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) to add to the team's scoring efforts.
- With 21 points through 37 games (five goals and 16 assists), Quinton Byfield has been an important part of Los Angeles' offensive efforts this season.
- As Los Angeles' top goalie, Darcy Kuemper has recorded 10 wins and 6 losses this season while allowing 49 goals with 539 saves.
Lightning
- Nikita Kucherov's 51 points make him a vital offensive option for Tampa Bay. He has put up 18 goals and 33 assists in 35 games.
- Jake Guentzel has posted 39 total points (one per game) this season. He has 18 goals and 21 assists.
- Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel is among the leading scorers on the team with 34 total points (18 goals and 16 assists).
- Andrei Vasilevskiy is 15-7-2 this season, amassing 572 saves and allowing 55 goals (2.3 goals against average) with a .914 save percentage (11th in the league).
Kings vs. Lightning Injury Report
Kings
None
Lightning
Victor Hedman: Out (Elbow),
Emil Martinsen Lilleberg: Out (Undisclosed),
Ryan McDonagh: Out (Undisclosed),
Scott Sabourin: Out (Undisclosed)
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Kings' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/23/2025 | Kraken | L 3-2 | Home |
| 12/27/2025 | Ducks | W 6-1 | Home |
| 12/29/2025 | Avalanche | L 5-2 | Away |
| 1/1/2026 | Lightning | - | Home |
| 1/3/2026 | Wild | - | Home |
| 1/5/2026 | Wild | - | Home |
| 1/7/2026 | Sharks | - | Home |
Lightning's Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/27/2025 | Panthers | W 4-2 | Away |
| 12/28/2025 | Canadiens | W 5-4 | Home |
| 12/31/2025 | Ducks | W 4-3 | Away |
| 1/1/2026 | Kings | - | Away |
| 1/3/2026 | Sharks | - | Away |
| 1/6/2026 | Avalanche | - | Home |
| 1/10/2026 | Flyers | - | Away |