Breaking down the best value bets, futures to take and strategies to look out for ahead of the first round matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings
The Oilers and Kings battle for the fourth straight time in the first round. Edmonton has claimed all three series so far with LA desperately looking to get out of the shadow of their big brother.
It's been a long time coming as the Oilers hold an all-time 36-18 playoff record with six straight series wins over the Kings dating back to 1989.
Things will most likely get heated after last year's first round matchup saw one game reach 92 penalty minutes as a flurry of brawls broke out in the third period after the Oilers went up 6-1 in Game three.
LA looks like they'll have the best chance yet to get over the Edmonton hump after finishing with four more points and securing home ice advantage that could go far for a Kings team that has the best home record in the NHL at 31-6-4 through 41 games.
It should make for a thrilling series with some of the best players in the world on display like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Anze Kopitar. It should make for must-see tv and a series of games that any hockey fan won't want to miss.
All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
LA Kings +1.5 (-178)
Edmonton has been plagued by injuries down the final stretch of the season with a 14-13-1 record over their last 28 games which places them behind the likes of the Sabres, Utah Hockey Club and Flames during that span.
It's not great to enter the postseason playing worse than some non-playoff teams but the Oilers did manage to win seven of their last ten games with McDavid and Draisaitl battling injuries.
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Edmonton will also be without forward Evander Kane and possibly Zach Hyman, who is day-to-day with their biggest loss being key blueliner Mattias Ekholm.
The Kings certainly don't have the same level of high-end talent that the Oilers have but LA has been playing as a cohesive unit for most of the season with almost no injuries.
Kuemper does his best HOLTBY impression 🤯👑
Los Angeles Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper robs Seattle Kraken forward Jaden Schwartz with an unbelievable stick save reminiscent of Braden Holtby's miraculous s...
The Kings have also handled the Oilers through their season series with a 3-1-0 record, a 12 to four goal ratio and netminder Darcy Kuemper earning back-to-back shutouts in the final two matchups.
This series should feature many under games like most LA Kings games are and it should keep them in this series to the very end.
Betting Strategies: Rely On Elite Goaltending
Under bets have been a regular for us and the Kings as they secured the second-best goals against average this season at 2.48 that improves to 1.98 when playing at home. This should keep almost every one of these games low-scoring with four of their last six Kings-Oilers matchups totalling under six goals.
I expect Kuemper to play the biggest role in this after going on a tear through his final 16 starts of the season with a league-best 13-3-0 record, a 1.27 goals against average and a .946 save percentage.
The last time Kuemper was in the postseason was the 2022 Playoffs, where he helped lift the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup with a 10-4-0 record and a 2.57 goals against average. He should be a difference maker for this team but also don't count out the goaltender in the opposing crease.
Many Oiler fans having been doubting Stuart Skinner once again after finishing with a 2.81 goals against average but a .896 save percentage this season. If the Edmonton native can dial back in to what he accomplished last postseason, we should see almost all these games go under as Skinner finished with a 14-9 record and a 2.45 goals against average.
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Matchup Trends: Potential Player Prop Targets
Edmonton Oilers:
- Connor McDavid has 12 goals and 30 assists for 42 points over his last 24 games versus the LA Kings with a nine-game point streak in this matchup. Oilers captain also has four goals and 25 assists for 29 points over his last 17 games.
- Leon Draisaitl has 17 goals and 21 assists for 38 points over his last 24 games versus the LA Kings with a matching nine-game point streak in this matchup. The Hart trophy candidate also has 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points over his last 31 games.
- Jake Walman has a goal and three assists over his last three games versus the LA Kings and recorded six points over his final nine games of the season.
- Evan Bouchard has been hot in the past with five goals and 22 assists for 27 points over his last 22 games against the Kings but has since gone four straight matchups without a point. Finished the season strong with 12 points in as many games which lead the team in points and placed him second in points by defenceman during that span.
LA Kings:
- Anze Kopitar has just two points over his last seven games versus the Oilers. The Kings longtime captain has three goals and seven assists for ten points in his last nine games.
- Adrian Kempe has 11 goals and ten assists for 21 points in his last 19 games versus the Oilers. Finished the season strong with six goals and nine assists for 15 points in his last nine games.
- Kevin Fiala has 11 goals and ten assists for 21 points in his last 20 games versus the Oilers. Found his scoring touch as if late with seven goals and three assists for ten point in last eight games.
- Quinton Byfield has six goals and ten assists for 16 points over his last 15 games versus the Oilers. The youngster has 12 goals and eight assists for 20 points in his last 22 games.