The Los Angeles Kings, fresh off their Saturday night clash with the Maple Leafs, are hungry for revenge against a San Jose Sharks team that embarrassed them 7-2 in their last meeting back in November.
Both squads will be battling fatigue on the second night of back-to-backs, with rookie netminder Georgi Romanov likely getting the nod for the Sharks while the Kings face a goaltending decision between Darcy Kuemper and David Rittich.
The stakes couldn't be higher as the playoff-bound Kings fight to secure their Pacific Division standing while the Los Angeles Kings aim to defend home ice against the struggling San Jose Sharks at Crypto.com Arena.
Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Los Angeles Kings vs San Jose Sharks matchup, our predictive model gives the Kings a 82.5% chance of defeating the Sharks.
Pre-game probabilities
Los Angeles Kings
Moneyline
Win %
82.5%
17.5%
San Jose Sharks
Los Angeles Kings: 82.5% win probability
- Superior defensive efficiency (185 goals against compared to Sharks' 270)
- Higher position in Western Conference standings (5th place vs 16th place)
- Better overall season performance (40 wins compared to Sharks' 20 wins)
San Jose Sharks: 17.5% win probability
- Poor defensive record (270 goals against, worst in Western Conference)
- League-worst win percentage (20 wins in 72 games played)
- Significant goal differential (-81, scoring 189 goals while allowing 270)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts..
| Los Angeles Kings | San Jose Sharks | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
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Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks preview
The Kings host the struggling Sharks at Crypto.com Arena tonight in what's shaping up to be a classic revenge game after San Jose embarrassed Los Angeles 7-2 back in November.
Both squads are coming off back-to-backs, with rookie netminder Georgi Romanov likely getting the start for the Sharks - a bold move considering he's made just one NHL start in his career.
The Kings, fighting to maintain their second-place position in the Pacific Division, have been downright scary offensively lately, dropping seven goals each on both Carolina and Boston during their recent four-game win streak that was snapped by Colorado.
Despite San Jose showing flashes of competence with wins over Boston and Toronto, they're still anchored at the bottom of the NHL standings with nothing left to play for except pride.
Kings' backup David Rittich has been shaky with a 3.78 GAA in March, but he's still the more proven option compared to Romanov's limited NHL experience.
This Pacific Division matchup feels like a perfect storm for Los Angeles to unleash their offensive firepower, especially with the motivation to avenge that earlier humiliation.
Hell, the stats tell the story themselves - San Jose has surrendered a whopping 260 goals this season while the Kings boast one of the league's stingiest defenses.
Given LA's depth advantage and the Sharks' struggles, I'm expecting the Kings to come out flying in front of the home crowd, likely putting up another crooked number on the scoreboard.
Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks form
Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks head to head
Los Angeles Kings
50%
San Jose Sharks
50%
Nov 26, 2024
San Jose Sharks
7 : 2
Los Angeles Kings
Oct 30, 2024
San Jose Sharks
4 : 2
Los Angeles Kings
Oct 25, 2024
Los Angeles Kings
3 : 2
San Jose Sharks
Apr 5, 2024
San Jose Sharks
1 : 2
Los Angeles Kings
Jan 23, 2024
Los Angeles Kings
3 : 4
San Jose Sharks
Dec 28, 2023
Los Angeles Kings
5 : 1
San Jose Sharks
