The Edmonton Oilers head to Los Angeles to take on the Kings for Game 2 of their first-round NHL playoff series at Crypto.com Arena tonight. This series is starting to heat up.
The Kings lead the series 1-0 after a thrilling 6-5 win in Game 1 on Monday and this matchup between two Pacific Division foes has already shown us plenty of fireworks, and we expect more of the same tonight.
The Oilers are looking to even things up and steal a game on the road, while the Kings aim to take a commanding 2-0 lead before heading to Edmonton for a couple of games.
The betting lines for Game 2 are tight, which we expected after the high-scoring affair in Game 1. The Oilers are slight underdogs on the moneyline at +105, while the Kings are favored at just -125. On the puck line, Edmonton is taking +1.5 with -128 odds, and Los Angeles is at -1.5 with +195.
These odds show that the bookmakers expect another close game just like what we got in Game 1. The Oilers being underdogs makes sense — they’re on the road, and the Kings just proved they can hang with Edmonton’s high-powered offense for a full 60 minutes. The over on the 5.5 total at -125 just goes to acknowledge the offensive outburst we saw in Game 1, where the teams combined for an insane 11 goals. But with both teams likely tightening up defensively after that wild opener, there’s a case to be made for a lower-scoring game now that they have some expectations.
6-5 is definitely an anomaly in the NHL playoffs and we’re not so sure tonight’s game will even approach those numbers.
The Kings pulled off a 6-5 win in a game that had everything — power-play goals, lead changes, and a late push by the Oilers that fell just short of tying it up.
Phillip Danault led the way for the Kings with 2 goals, while Adrian Kempe added 1 goal and 2 assists. Kevin Fiala chipped in as well with 1 goal and 1 assist, showing the Kings’ have some depth that can hang with the toughest teams.
On the Oilers’ side, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid were their usual selves, with Draisaitl scoring a goal and McDavid picking up a goal and 3 assists. But Edmonton’s defense and goaltending simply couldn’t keep up, allowing the Kings to capitalize on their chances.
In the net, the Oilers went with Stuart Skinner, who stopped 30 of 36 shots for a dismal .800 SV% in Game 1 — an uncharacteristically rough night for him. Skinner’s season stats are solid, though, with 26 wins, a decent 2.81 GAA, and a mediocre .896 SV%. Enough to get the job done on most nights, but far from elite. Backup Calvin Pickard has better numbers, with a 2.71 GAA and .900 SV% across 22 wins, but it’s likely Skinner will get the nod again to bounce back. We’ll have to see as the game gets closer.
For the Kings, Darcy Kuemper was in goal, stopping 25 of 30 shots for a .800 SV% as well. Kuemper’s season stats are much stronger, with 31 wins, a 2.02 GAA, and a .922 SV%, so that performance was unlike him as well. David Rittich, the Kings’ backup, has a 2.84 GAA and .837 SV% across 16 wins, but Kuemper’s experience makes him the likely starter, especially in a big game like tonight’s.
Offensively, the Oilers are led by Leon Draisaitl, who has 106 points spanning 52 goals and 54 assists during the regular season, and Connor McDavid, who’s racked up 74 assists and 104 points. Edmonton averages 3.16 GF/G and has a 23.7 PP%, but they went 0 for 2 on the power play in Game 1 which is an area they’ll need to improve if they want to go deep in the playoffs. The Kings counter with Adrian Kempe, who has 73 points on the season, and Anze Kopitar with 46 assists. Los Angeles averages 3.04 GF/G and converted 2 of their 5 power-play chances in Game 1.
Of course, both teams have to tighten up some things as they move forward, but who will make the right moves for this game?
We all know that this game is going to be a battle, but we’re backing the Oilers to even the series.
Edmonton’s offense is too good to be held down for long between their stars and their depth. Draisaitl and McDavid combined for 2 goals and 4 assists in Game 1, and they’ll be hungry to make a statement after the loss.
The Oilers’ 3.16 GF/G average should shine through, especially against a Kings team that gave up 5 goals last game. While the Kings’ power play unit in Game 1 was undoubtedly impressive, Edmonton’s penalty kill has been solid all season at 78.2%, and they’ll be a bit more disciplined tonight.
Goaltending is a concern for both sides after Game 1, which is not what we expected. This will be an area that needs some focus from both sides, but there’s too much on the line for us to see either team give a G2 the nod for the game, so we’ll most likely see these 2 go head-to-head again tonight.
Sure, the Kings have momentum with the 1-0 series lead, and players like Kempe and Danault are undeniably dangerous, but their 2.48 GAA might not hold up against Edmonton’s relentless and dominant attack. The Oilers also have a chip on their shoulder after blowing a lead in Game 1—they tied it up in the 3rd before Danault scored the game-winner with less than a minute left. That stings, and they’ll come out firing.
BettorsInsiders Prediction: Oilers 4, Kings 2
Best Bet: Oilers moneyline at +105
We expect a tighter game than the 6-5 shootout in Game 1. Both teams will focus on cleaning up defensively and in the net, and the 5.5 total looks a bit high. But for our best bet, we’re going with the Oilers on the moneyline at +105. The value is there at near even odds, and Edmonton’s star power should get them the win.
The Oilers have the firepower to take this one on the road and have the series tied at 1 when they take the ice back home in Edmonton. The Kings will surely fight hard, but Edmonton’s stars will make the difference in a must-win game.