San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings prediction: Sharks' power play eyes the NHL's worst penalty kill in Los Angeles
Two struggling offenses, and the Kings' last-place penalty kill may give San Jose the opening it hasn't found at even strength.
| Line | Los Angeles Kings -157 (puck line -1.5) |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 6 |
- Two bottom-tier offenses point to a tight, low-event game, likely decided by special teams and the Kings' shaky goaltending.
- San Jose's power play (21.8%, 14th) against a Kings penalty kill that ranks last in the NHL at 62.5%.
- Los Angeles is a -157 favorite at home. The total slipped from 6.25 to 6.0, and the Sharks are 7-9 to the over.
The penalty kill problem
A month into the season, Los Angeles has a hole it can't seem to patch. The Kings' penalty kill, the share of opponent power plays they get through without allowing a goal, sits at 62.5%, last of 32 teams. They don't spend an unusual amount of time in the box, ranking 11th in times shorthanded per game. The damage happens after the door closes.
San Jose is built to test that. The Sharks draw 3.44 power plays per game, 8th in the league, and convert 21.8% of them (power-play goals per opportunity), 14th. For a team that has struggled to create anything at even strength, the man advantage may be its best route to goals tonight.
The other end of the special-teams battle also leans San Jose. The Kings' power play ranks 23rd at 17.8% and runs into a Sharks penalty kill that ranks 6th. Los Angeles does draw plenty of calls, 7th in the league, so the Sharks have to stay out of the box to make the edge count.
A goaltending question in LA
Darcy Kuemper is the probable starter for Los Angeles, but the Kings haven't named one. His start has been rough: a .878 save percentage and a 3.65 goals-against average. Anton Forsberg has been sharper in his six appearances at .902, so the warmup crease is worth checking.
Yaroslav Askarov is expected to start for San Jose, though that isn't confirmed. He carries a .901 save percentage and has needed every save. The Sharks allow 30.4 shots per game, 30th in the league, and their shot share (their portion of all shots in their games) ranks 27th. As a team, San Jose ranks 11th in save percentage and Los Angeles 23rd, a gap that has kept the Sharks in games they were outshot in.
Two offenses searching for goals
Neither team scores much. The Sharks rank 28th at 2.56 goals per game, the Kings 26th at 2.77. San Jose's skid is the sharper one: five goals in its past four games, with three losses. Coach Ryan Warsofsky said his team is struggling to create scoring chances.
Macklin Celebrini still leads the Sharks with 16 points in 14 games, but he has gone six games without a goal. Tyler Toffoli has been skating with him on the top line and the top power-play unit, the likeliest group to go at that Kings penalty kill.
For Los Angeles, Artemi Panarin has carried the scoring with 8 goals on a 19.0% shooting rate, a number that is hard to sustain over a full season.
Who's in and who's out
The Kings are thin. Kevin Fiala and Mats Zuccarello are on injured reserve on week-to-week timelines, though Zuccarello was practicing in full as of Tuesday. Adrian Kempe is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Brandt Clarke was struck near the eye at practice and helped off, but he returned to practice Tuesday, so his status is unsettled. Alex Turcotte, Jakub Dvorak and Jan Jenik are also out.
San Jose is without Alexander Wennberg and Igor Chernyshov, both on injured reserve with upper-body injuries. Wennberg took part in a morning skate in a non-contact jersey on Monday. Chernyshov's absence stings in this matchup: he scored the overtime winner when the Sharks beat the Kings 5-4 on Oct. 3.
What the market sees
Books make Los Angeles a -157 favorite, with San Jose at +133 and the Kings at -1.5 on the puck line. That price leans on home ice, but the Kings are 1-4-0 at home, while the Sharks are 4-3-1 on the road. Los Angeles also comes in with four days of rest to San Jose's two.
The total has dropped from 6.25 when our feed first saw it to 6.0. That fits both teams' trends: the Kings are 5-8 to the over and the Sharks 7-9. On the puck line, Los Angeles is 8-5, mostly while getting goals as an underdog, and San Jose is 6-10.
San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings line movement and odds
| Book | Sharks ML | Kings ML | Sharks spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | +135 | -160 | +1.5 (-175) | o6 (-120) |
| BetRivers | +123 | -148 | +1.5 (-205) | o6.5 (+104) |
| DraftKings | +130 | -155 | +1.5 (-180) | o6.5 (+105) |
| ESPN BET | +140 | -165 | +1.5 (-180) | o6.5 (+105) |
| Fanatics | +130 | -155 | +1.5 (-190) | o6.5 (+110) |
| FanDuel | +130 | -156 | +1.5 (-178) | o6.5 (+110) |
| Hard Rock Bet | +130 | -150 | +1.5 (-185) | o6.5 (+105) |
| Caesars | +133 | -157 | +1.5 (-182) | o6 (-121) |
Where the money is on San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings
On the Kalshi moneyline: San Jose Sharks: 76% of bets, 73% of the money; Los Angeles Kings: 24% of bets, 27% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Los Angeles Kings -1.5: 43% of bets, 38% of the money; San Jose Sharks +1.5: 57% of bets, 62% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 6.5: 43% of bets, 1% of the money; Under 6.5: 57% of bets, 99% of the money.
San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings stats (this season)
| Stat | San Jose Sharks | Los Angeles Kings |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 7-8-1 | 4-7-2 |
| Goals per game | 2.56 (28th of 32) | 2.77 (26th of 32) |
| Goals allowed per game | 3.31 (20th of 32) | 3.46 (26th of 32) |
| Goal differential per game | -0.75 (27th of 32) | -0.69 (26th of 32) |
| Shots on goal per game | 27.1 (17th of 32) | 28.0 (13th of 32) |
| Shots allowed per game | 30.4 (30th of 32) | 28.3 (22nd of 32) |
| Shot share | 47.2% (27th of 32) | 49.7% (14th of 32) |
| Shooting % | 9.4% (29th of 32) | 9.9% (26th of 32) |
| Team save % | 89.1% (11th of 32) | 87.8% (23rd of 32) |
| Power play % | 21.8% (14th of 32) | 17.8% (23rd of 32) |
| Penalty kill % | 84.9% (6th of 32) | 62.5% (32nd of 32) |
| Faceoff % | 48.1% (24th of 32) | 51.4% (10th of 32) |
Key players
- Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks): Leads San Jose with 16 points in 14 games this season but has gone six games without a goal.
- Tyler Toffoli (San Jose Sharks): Has 9 points this season and is skating on the top power-play unit facing the league's worst penalty kill.
- Will Smith (San Jose Sharks): Leads the Sharks with 6 goals this season on 14.0% shooting.
- Yaroslav Askarov (San Jose Sharks): Carries a .901 save percentage and a 2.92 goals-against average in 10 games this season.
- Artemi Panarin (Los Angeles Kings): Leads the Kings with 8 goals and 13 points in 13 games this season.
- Darcy Kuemper (Los Angeles Kings): Has a .878 save percentage and a 3.65 goals-against average this season.
- Brandt Clarke (Los Angeles Kings): Has 10 points from the blue line this season, though his status is unsettled after he was struck near the eye at practice.
- Adrian Kempe (Los Angeles Kings): Day-to-day with an undisclosed injury after putting up 8 points in 12 games.
Numbers that matter
| Kings penalty kill | 62.5% | Last of 32 teams, and it faces a Sharks power play that ranks 14th. |
|---|---|---|
| Sharks power plays drawn per game | 3.44 | Eighth in the league, so San Jose should get chances to test that penalty kill. |
| Kuemper save percentage | .878 | The Kings' probable starter has struggled while Forsberg sits at .902. |
| Kings moneyline | -157 | Los Angeles is favored despite a 1-4-0 home record. |
| Total movement | 6.25 to 6.0 | The number has dropped since first posted, in line with both teams' under-leaning records. |
San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings: quick answers
What is the over/under for San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings?
The total is 6 goals.
When is San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings?
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 10:10 PM ET.
Where is San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings played?
crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles.
Has the line moved for San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings?
No: San Jose Sharks has stayed at +1.5, and the total is still 6.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).
Where is the money on San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings?
On the Kalshi moneyline: San Jose Sharks: 76% of bets, 73% of the money; Los Angeles Kings: 24% of bets, 27% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Los Angeles Kings -1.5: 43% of bets, 38% of the money; San Jose Sharks +1.5: 57% of bets, 62% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 6.5: 43% of bets, 1% of the money; Under 6.5: 57% of bets, 99% of the money.