Will the Kings stop the Oilers run?
Showdown in Hollywood is the name of the game on Thursday when the Los Angeles Kings host the Edmonton Oilers. Even if the Crypto.com Arena is not actually in Hollywood, it could still be dramatic and cinematic in this matchup.
The Kings are exactly one point behind the Oilers in the West and both are still fighting for the last postseason spots in the Western Conference. With the Predators, Stars and Golden Knights also lurking behind them, the duel is of great importance.
If the Kings win, they move past the Oilers. If the Oilers win, they hang on to the Kings for the moment and greatly increase their playoff chances. The slightly bigger pressure is on LA, but they have handled it well lately.
They won three of the last five duels against direct rivals and the two defeats came only after penalty shootouts or with only one goal difference. That’s why our prediction for Kings vs. Oilers is a close duel on equal terms with the better end for LA.
Los Angeles Kings – Statistics & Current Form
The Kings are the great unknown in the playoff race in the West. As the biggest underdog, experts have been waiting for a collapse for weeks, but it hasn’t come. Thus, they consistently hold their own in the Top 8, even if their lead has shrunk a bit lately.
Thus, the duel with Edmonton is immensely important for them, as they only have three more home games this season. With a win, however, they would overtake the Oilers again and at least maintain their lead over Vegas.
Kings games all thrillers of late
The last four Kings games were all very close and were either decided by only one goal difference or even by the penalty shootout. That means two things: firstly, they are enormously difficult to beat and secondly, betting on their games is no easy task.
This even brings a bet on a draw into focus for Thursday, which is well worth considering at odds of up to 4.30. In the end, however, we would lean towards betting on LA, as they have not had two weak games in a row since mid-January.
LA better defensively than Edmonton
Another point in the Kings’ favour on Thursday is their better defence. They concede on average 0.39 goals less per game than the Oilers and especially in the important games (later also in the playoffs) experience shows that fewer goals are scored and the defence comes into focus.
For this reason, the odds on an easy win for the Kings against the Oilers are recommended. Should Leon Draisaitl surprisingly be back on the ice for the Oilers after his injury, however, bets on a draw are also possible – but these are associated with a certain basic risk.
Key Players:
G: Jonathan Quick
D: Mikey Anderson
D: Drew Doughty
LW: Alex Iafallo
C: Anze Kopitar
RW: Adrian Kempe
Edmonton Oilers – Statistics & current form
If you want to make the playoffs in the Western Conference, you really have to be in top form right now. Just about all the teams fighting for the final spots are in win mode and the same goes for the Edmonton Oilers.
They have five wins in a row, three of which came after overtime. The Canadians therefore have nerves of steel. However, luck will not be on their side forever, especially if Draisaitl is out of action on Thursday.
Is Leon Draisaitl absent again?
After playing in 352 straight games, the German international forward and former MVP missed Tuesday’s game in San Jose for the first time due to an injury he suffered in the first period against the Ducks. He played through that game, but it was probably not a good decision.
Not only was he not in the line-up on Tuesday, but it is feared that Draisaitl will not make it back on the ice against the Kings either. That, of course, would be a severe weakening that would swing the pendulum a bit in the direction of Los Angeles.
Goalies again severely challenged
So on the one hand Conor McDavid is under special scoring pressure for this game, on the other hand the starting goalie (we expect Koskinen) should deliver a top performance. Since this has often not been possible this season (only 90.2% save percentage), it could be tight for Thursday.
Only with Draisaitl do we trust them with a draw or even an away win, without him we see the Kings ahead. So for LA vs. Edmonton a bet on the home team is our betting option no.1, for which we also get a really good value.
Key Players:
G: Mikko Koskinen
D: Darnell Nurse
D: Cody Ceci
LW: Evander Kane
C: Connor McDavid
RW: Kailer Yamamoto
Los Angeles Kings – Edmonton Oilers Direct Comparison / H2H-Balance
Three times this duel has already taken place this season, twice the Oilers were successful. In the last meeting exactly one week ago, however, it was a completely even game that was only decided after a penalty shootout.
At that time, however, the Kings were ahead in the end with 41:33 shots and among the Oilers scorers was Draisaitl, who is questionable for Thursday. So the conditions for the upcoming game are a bit different.
For Kings vs. Oilers, the odds on Los Angeles are thus much more promising, especially since the betting companies do not see them as the favourites. This surprises us a bit, but is good for the value of our favoured bets.
Los Angeles Kings – Edmonton Oilers Tip
Draisaitl could be out, plus we expect more of a low scoring game. Both points that speak for the Kings, who also have the home advantage on their side. Enough reasons to see the men from the City of Angels in front.
This makes a bet on the home team our No.1 betting option for Kings vs. Oilers, but without a handicap, as the Kings always win their games by a narrow margin. The second possible option would be betting on X, although we would rather avoid this without Draisaitl.
Another betting alternative for this game, however, is a bet on subpar points. The last three Kings games saw only five total points each, with the last Oilers game ending 2-1. With Draisaitl also likely to be absent, we don’t expect any goal fireworks.
