Tampa Bay Looks to Avenge Recent Loss to Kings in New Year’s Day Showdown LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The Tampa Bay Lightning will seek to even the season series and continue their climb in the standings when they visit the struggling Los Angeles Kings on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena. The Lightning (23-16-0) enter the New Year’s Day matinee fresh off a 4-3 overtime victory at Anaheim on Wednesday. Brandon Hagel was instrumental in the win, notching three assists and putting six shots on goal. Hagel has been a consistent offensive catalyst, recording four points in his last two games. Tampa Bay has won four of its last five contests, showcasing the high-powered offense that has them seven games above .500. Their most recent loss, however, came against these same Kings, a 2-1 defeat at home on Dec. 18. The Kings (16-22-0) have struggled to find consistency, dropping seven of their last 10 games. They are coming off a 5-2 loss at Colorado on Monday. Adrian Kempe, who scored both goals in Los Angeles’ victory over Tampa Bay earlier this month, recorded an assist and five shots in that loss. Kempe remains a key offensive threat for a Kings team that has been outscored 18-9 during a current three-game losing skid. This matchup pits one of the league’s more potent attacks against a Kings team desperate to stop a slide. Tampa Bay’s offense, fueled by Hagel and stars like Nikita Kucherov, will test a Los Angeles squad that has allowed 15 goals in its last three outings. According to National Statistical, the game simulator projects a 3-2 victory for the visiting Lightning. Following this game, Tampa Bay begins a two-game California road trip finale at San Jose on Saturday. The Kings continue a five-game homestand, hosting Minnesota on Saturday.