Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Monday’s Pacific Division matchup between the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers.
Kings vs. Oilers Odds
- Los Angeles Kings Moneyline: -110
- Edmonton Oilers Moneyline: -110
- Puck Line: Kings +1.5 (-275), Oilers -1.5 (+220)
- Game Total: 5.5 (Over -110, Under -110)
Game odds courtesy of Sports Interaction.
Handicapping the Kings (46-33 SU, 39-40 ATS, 31-45-3 O/U)
The Los Angeles Kings will take on the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth straight season. Edmonton has won all three previous matchups, but they held home-ice advantage each time. The Kings can flip that script with a win in Edmonton on Monday.
Los Angeles has taken two of three games from the Oilers this season, including a 3-0 shutout at home on April 5. But the Kings have struggled at Rogers Place, dropping four of their last five visits, and they’ve been shaky on the road overall with a 15-19-5 record.
Kevin Fiala scored twice on Saturday, setting a new career high with his team-leading 34th goal of the season. It was his second straight multi-goal game, and he now has six goals in his last five outings. Quinton Byfield also found the net for the third game in a row and has six points over that span. Since Feb. 1, he leads the team with 30 points in 30 games.
Drew Doughty has missed the last three games after aggravating the ankle injury that kept him out for the first 47 games of the season. The 35-year-old defenseman has four goals and 13 assists in 28 appearances and could return on Monday.
The Kings rank third in expected goals percentage and fifth in shot attempt share at five-on-five this season. Offense has been middle of the pack, with the team sitting 14th in goals per 60 minutes, but defensively they’ve been among the league’s best. Los Angeles ranks first in five-on-five expected goals against, and goaltender Darcy Kuemper ranks third in both save percentage and goals saved above expected among netminders who’ve faced at least 1,000 unblocked shot attempts.
Handicapping the Oilers (47-33 SU, 29-51 ATS, 35-44-1 O/U)
Edmonton won its third straight game on Sunday, beating the Winnipeg Jets 4-1. The Jets had clinched the Presidents’ Trophy earlier in the day and chose to rest goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, defenseman Josh Morrissey, and captain Adam Lowry, which helped level the playing field for the Oilers.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid continued his push for a fifth consecutive 100-point season with his third straight multi-point performance. He has nine points in three games since returning from an eight-game absence and now sits at 99 points in just 66 games.
It’s unclear what Edmonton’s lineup will look like on Monday, as the team continues to deal with a number of injuries. The Oilers say Leon Draisaitl will play again before the end of the regular season, but his status, along with several others, remains uncertain. Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Trent Frederic, and Jake Walman all missed Sunday’s game, and Mattias Ekholm is still undergoing testing.
Connor Brown also scored for the third game in a row. He had just nine goals in 77 games before Edmonton’s three-game win streak but now has four goals on 12 shots during that stretch. Forward Viktor Arvidsson stayed hot as well, scoring his fifth goal in the last eight games. As concerning as the injuries are for the Oilers, their scoring depth is an encouraging sign.
Stuart Skinner stopped 18 of 19 shots on Sunday, his first game back since suffering an injury on March 26, but that means Calvin Pickard will almost certainly start on Monday. Pickard has won five of his last six starts, with his only loss coming against the Kings.
Best Bet for Kings vs. Oilers
Adrian Kempe Over 2.5 Shots On Goal (-118) at Sports Interaction
Kings forward Adrian Kempe has recorded three or more shots in 14 of his last 21 games, and he consistently shows up against the Oilers. The 28-year-old has hit that mark in 12 of 15 games versus Edmonton since the start of the 2021–22 season, including seven straight and nine of the last 10.
