The Buffalo Sabres laid an egg in a 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night. The Los Angeles Kings will also play its first game back after a long break and playing at home tonight. Does this offer opportunities for the Tampa Bay Lightning, or do the Kings appear sharp on their home ice?

Los Angeles Kings: lost 4 games in a row

The All-Star break is over, but the Los Angeles Kings have known for some time that they have nothing left to play for this season. The hockey team is at the bottom of both the Pacific Division and Western Conference, trailing sixteen points to the last guaranteed play-off spots. The Kings are among the least productive teams of the NHL. averaging 2.5 goals per game, only the Anaheim Ducks and the Detroit Red Wings are scoring less.

Defensively, Los Angeles is mediocre at best, conceding 2.96 goals per game, placing them 18th in the NHL. Before the All-Star break, the Kings lost four games in a row and understandably they want to end this losing skid. On January 18, the hockey team had no chance in a 4-1 loss against the Philadelphia Flyers. Los Angeles hasn't played an official game for quite some time now and the question is whether they will be sharp at home or not.

Tampa Bay Lightning: overtime loss in Dallas

The Tampa Bay Lightning was previously seen as one of the biggest contenders for winning the Stanley Cup. The results of the hockey team were a bit underwhelming at first, but they climbed to second place in the Atlantic Division recently. If they want to win the division title in the Atlantic Division, they have to make up nine points over the Boston Bruins. The Lightning has the advantage that it still has two games in hand compared to the division leaders.

Tampa Bay came off the break with a 3-2 OT loss in Dallas on Monday. In Texas, they faced a 1-2 deficit halfway through the third period, but thanks to captain Steve Stamkos they forced the extra session with a 2-2 equalizer with 1:26 left in the third frame. The hockey team had to make do with one point in the end, as Jamie Benn gave Dallas a 3-2 win through overtime with his second goal of the evening. Stamkos (two goals) and Nikita Kucherov (two assists) again lead the charge for the Bolts against the Stars and will have to remain productive until the end of the regular season to secure a play off ticket.

Lightning in regulation

The Tampa Bay Lightning played its first game after the All-Star break on Monday, while the Los Angeles Kings had eleven days off. Vasilevskiy will start in net for the Bolts and Los Angeles will start with Jonathan Quick or Jack Campbell. Both goalies are struggling this season and I don't see one of them stopping the Lightning, who can rely on a few quality forwards. Several teams have already proven to be less sharp this week after a long break and this could also be a trend that applies to Los Angeles.

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