Los Angeles Kings (47-25-10) vs. Edmonton Oilers (50-23-9)
April 17, 2023 10:00 pm EDT
The Line: Edmonton Oilers -170 / Los Angeles Kings +153; Over/Under: +6.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers meet Monday in game 1 of the NHL West First Round Playoffs at the Rogers Place. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Los Angeles Kings are averaging 3.3 goals per game and are scoring on 25.3 percent of their power play opportunities. Adrian Kempe leads Los Angeles with 41 goals, Kevin Fiala has 49 assists and Viktor Arvidsson has 228 shots on goal. Defensively, the Los Angeles Kings are allowing 3.1 goals per game and are killing 75.8 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jonathan Quick has given up 99 goals on 798 shots faced, and Pheonix Copley has allowed 92 goals on 947 shots.
The Edmonton Oilers are averaging 4 goals per game and are scoring on 32.4 percent of their power play opportunities. Connor McDavid leads Edmonton with 64 goals, Leon Draisaitl has 76 assists and Zach Hyman has 276 shots on goal. Defensively, the Edmonton Oilers are allowing 3.1 goals per game and are killing 77 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jack Campbell has allowed 115 goals on 1,027 shots faced, and Stuart Skinner has given up 133 goals on 1,536 shots.
The Kings are 5-0 in their last 5 Monday games and 3-10 in their last 13 Conference Quarterfinals games. The Oilers are 9-1 in their last 10 home games and 20-6 in their last 26 overall. The over is 6-2-1 in Kings last 9 Monday games. The under is 5-1-1 in Oilers last 7 overall. The Kings are 5-12 in the last 17 meetings in Edmonton. The favorite is 37-14 in the last 51 meetings.
The Edmonton Oilers are the better team on paper, they’ve been ridiculous over the last month or so, and they’re a popular pick to win the cup for those not picking the Bruins. So, the Oilers being favored here isn’t a surprise. However, the Los Angeles Kings are far from a pushover, they have the offensive firepower to hang with the Oilers, and they took Edmonton to 7 games in last year’s first round. I expect this to be another entertaining series. There’s value with the Kings and the plus money.
