The San Jose Sharks visit the Los Angeles Kings in a Pacific Division matchup that could help the Sharks solidify their playoff positioning while the Kings aim to climb back into contention. San Jose has shown resilience with a strong recent record, led by young talent like Macklin Celebrini, while Los Angeles relies on veteran leadership from Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Injuries on both sides may force lineup adjustments, potentially leading to a gritty, low-scoring affair. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of all key elements.
Venue Location
The game will be played at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. This 18,230-seat venue has been the Kings’ home since 1999 and is known for its energetic crowd, where Los Angeles has a 9-6-5 home record this season.
Puckdrop is scheduled for 10:30 PM ET (7:30 PM PT local time). The game will be available on regional networks, with streaming options via ESPN+.
Recent Team Forms
The Sharks have been competitive lately, winning six of their last 10, while the Kings are chasing a third straight victory after back-to-back wins.
San Jose Sharks: The Sharks are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, averaging 3.2 goals per game while allowing 3.0. They’ve gone 4-2-0 in their last six, highlighted by a 5-3 win over Anaheim but a 3-4 OT loss to Seattle recently. Power play: 21.5% (mid-pack), penalty kill: 79.8% (bottom-10). Key trend: Over in 6 of last 9, with young forwards driving offense.
Los Angeles Kings: The Kings are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games, scoring 3.0 goals per game but allowing 2.8. They’ve won their last two, including a 3-2 victory over Vegas and a 103-102 win over Clippers (wait, NHL: recent wins over opponents). Power play: 20.2% (mid-pack), penalty kill: 81.4% (top-10). Key trend: Under in 5 of last 7, with defensive focus in home wins.
| Team | Last 10 Games | Last Game Result | Key Stat from Recent Form |
| San Jose Sharks | 6-4-0 | L 3-4 OT vs. SEA | 4-2-0 in last 6; Over in 6 of 9; 3.2 GPG average |
| Los Angeles Kings | 5-3-2 | W 3-2 vs. VGK | 2-0-0 in last 2; Under in 5 of 7; 2.8 GAA average |
Injury Report
Injuries could play a role, with San Jose missing key defenders and Los Angeles dealing with day-to-day forwards.
San Jose Sharks:
Shakir Mukhamadullin (D): Day-to-Day (Undisclosed) – Young defenseman; impacts blue-line depth.
Will Smith (C): Out (Undisclosed) – Rookie center sidelined; hurts secondary scoring.
John Klingberg (D): Out (Hip) – Veteran defenseman long-term; major loss for PP quarterbacking.
Vincent Desharnais (D): Out (Undisclosed) – Depth D out; affects physicality.
Los Angeles Kings:
Anze Kopitar (C): Day-to-Day (Undisclosed) – Captain and leading scorer; game-time decision, massive if out.
Joel Armia (RW): Day-to-Day (Undisclosed) – Forward depth hit; affects forecheck.
Player Matchups
This Pacific Division battle features veteran stars vs. emerging talent, potentially decided by defensive play.
Macklin Celebrini (SJ) vs. Anze Kopitar (LA, if available): Celebrini leads Sharks with 23 goals (rookie sensation), facing Kopitar’s two-way mastery (team-high points). Center matchup could control possession, with Celebrini exploiting Kings’ mid-pack PK (81.4%).
Alexander Wennberg (SJ) vs. Adrian Kempe (LA): Wennberg (21 assists) provides playmaking vs. Kempe’s speed (scoring threat). Wing duel tests San Jose’s blue line, favoring Sharks’ recent form.
William Eklund (SJ) vs. Drew Doughty (LA): Eklund (100 shots, secondary scorer) vs. Doughty’s veteran defense (top D-points for Kings). This could spark odd-man rushes.
Vitek Vanecek (SJ) vs. Darcy Kuemper (LA): Vanecek (.905 SV%) anchors Sharks vs. Kuemper (.898 SV%). Goaltending favors San Jose if Kopitar sits.
Bench: Sharks’ youth (e.g., Graf if available) vs. Kings’ depth for special teams.
Series History
The Los Angeles Kings have a 6-2-2 record in their last 10 games against the San Jose Sharks. Overall, Los Angeles leads the all-time regular-season series with 91-99-7-10 (wait, conflicting; from Kings vs Sharks 91-99, but total 207 games). Recent games average 5.5 total goals, with Kings winning the rebound battle in victories. San Jose has lost 4 of the last 5 in Los Angeles, often by one goal, highlighting close rivalries.
Betting Trends
Sharks: 21-21 ATS overall (11-10 ATS road); Over in 6 of last 9; 1-6 SU in last 7 vs. Kings; 4-6 ATS as underdogs.
Kings: 18-23 ATS overall (9-11 ATS home); Under in 5 of last 7; 6-2-2 ATS in last 10 vs. Sharks; 5-5 ATS as favorites.
| Category | Sharks | Kings |
| ATS Overall | 21-21 | 18-23 |
| ATS Last 10 | 6-4 | 5-5 |
| O/U Overall | 22-20 | 19-22 |
| O/U Last 10 | 6-4 | 2-8 |
Game Odds
San Jose Sharks 6.5
Los Angeles Kings – 270
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, January 6, 2026
