The Edmonton Oilers are starting to play like the team we expected to see in their series with the Los Angeles Kings, topping the Kings 6-3 Tuesday night in Edmonton.
The scene shifts back to Los Angeles Saturday for Game 6, which could be the final game of the season for the Kings, who are down 3-1 in the series.
The potential elimination game gives us a prime opportunity for our NHL best bets.
Oilers vs Kings Game 6 Odds
NHL odds used for these best bets are current as of Wednesday, April 26, at 1 p.m. and were found at Caesars Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Oilers (-170) • Kings (+143)
- Puck Line: Oilers -1.5 (+143) • Kings +1.5 (-170)
- Total Goals Scored: Over 6.5 (-130) • Under 6.5 (+110)
Oilers vs Kings Game 6 Prediction
Oilers 5, Kings 3
This series has become the Leon Draisaitl show. The German forward is one of the five-best players in the NHL, but tends to get overshadowed at times by teammate Connor McDavid.
Draisaitl has six goals in the first five games of the series, with two coming on the power-play. McDavid is still looking for his first even-strength goal of the playoffs.
I’m expecting both stars to come out in full force during Game 6. The Oilers don’t want to go back to Alberta for Game 7 if they don’t have to, so I expect them to take out the Kings Saturday night.
Oilers vs Kings Game 6 Best Bets
Oilers (-170) • Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Edmonton has cut down on the penalties that plagued it early in the series.
In Game 5, the Oilers took just one minor penalty in the first 58 minutes of the game. Both teams picked up a meaningless 10-minute misconduct penalty late in the game with the score out of reach.
Edmonton is the better team, and if it stays out of the penalty box as it has the last couple of games it should win Game 6 and end the series.
An Oilers win is my NHL bet of the day.
Over 6.5 Goals (-130) • Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Neither team has had particularly stellar goaltending in this series, as both have had to pull their starter at least once.
The Kings’ Joonas Korpisalo was the most recent to be yanked after he gave up four goals on 19 shots Tuesday night.
Korpisalo has a goals against average of 3.50 and a save percentage of .904 in the series. Those stats are comparable to Edmonton netminder Stuart Skinner, who has a 3.31 GAA and a save percentage of .884.
These two teams have hit 6.5 goals in three of the five games in the series, and I’m taking the Over as I expect it to become four out of six on Saturday night.
Oilers vs Kings Game 5 Preview
For the third time in the series, the Kings and Oilers went to overtime, but Game 4 will be the one that got away for Los Angeles. The Oilers rallied from down 3-0 in the second period to take the momentum back with a 5-4 overtime win.
Leon Draisaitl continues to be the star for Edmonton in this series. Draisaitl had two goals and an assist in the victory. Evan Bouchard chipped in with a goal and an assist on Zach Hyman’s game-winning overtime goal.
The scene now shifts back to Edmonton for Game 5, giving us a prime opportunity to pick a few Edmonton vs Los Angeles best bets.
Oilers vs Kings Game 5 Odds
NHL betting lines used for these best bets are current as of Monday, April 24, at 9 a.m. and were found at Caesars Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Oilers (-240) • Kings (+196)
- Puck Line: Oilers -1.5 (+105) • Kings +1.5 (-125)
- Total Goals Scored: Over 6.5 (-105) • Under 6.5 (-115)
Oilers vs Kings Game 5 Prediction
Oilers 4, Kings 3
The Oilers were never fazed after falling into the 3-0 hole early against the Kings Sunday night. They rallied to win their first playoff game after trailing by three or more goals since 1997.
Edmonton’s diverse group of scoring options will again prove too much for L.A. to contain.
Oilers vs Kings Game 5 Best Bets
Oilers 1st Period -0.5 (+122) • Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Oilers will be back home Tuesday night with renewed momentum coming off their big comeback win.
I mentioned in previous previews how Edmonton had to clean up the penalties to have a shot to win the series. On Sunday night, it took just two minor penalties in more than 69 minutes of action.
Connor McDavid also made his presence known in 5-on-5, which is key for the Oilers. McDavid, who had been held off the scoresheet at even strength in the first three games, had two 5-on-5 assists in Game 4.
Stuart Skinner was pulled after one period Sunday night, leading Jack Campbell to make 27 saves on 28 shots faced. But Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft announced Tuesday that Skinner would get the nod for the pivotal Game 5.
I like Edmonton to come out of the gates quickly Tuesday night with a first-period lead as the NHL top pick today.
Kings +1.5 (-125) • Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
While I believe the Oilers will win the game outright, the Edmonton Moneyline of -240 isn’t appealing here.
I think Los Angeles has proven it can play the Oilers close, as three of the first four games have been one-goal contests.
The Kings led Game 4 with four minutes to play, so they have been in position to win.
I think Los Angeles will keep it close again, so I am taking the Kings puck line in Game 5.
Oilers vs Kings Game 4 Preview
The Los Angeles Kings rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night in California.
Joonas Korpisalo was outstanding for the Kings, stopping 38 of the 40 shots he faced.
The Kings now look to take a stranglehold on the series at home before it shifts to Edmonton for Game 5, giving us a prime opportunity for our NHL best bets.
Oilers vs Kings Game 4 Odds
NHL odds used for these best bets are current as of Saturday, April 22, at 11:00 a.m. ET and were found at Caesars Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Oilers (-160) • Kings (+135)
- Puck Line: Kings +1.5 (-190) • Oilers -1.5 (+158)
- Total Goals Scored: Over 6.5 (+100) • Under 6.5 (-120)
Oilers vs Kings Game 4 Prediction
Oilers 4, Kings 3
The good news for Edmonton in Game 3 was that Connor McDavid scored two power-play goals that gave the Oilers the lead in the second period.
The bad news is McDavid still doesn’t have a point at even strength in the series.
That’s going to have to change if the Oilers are going to rally and beat the Kings in the first round for the second-straight year.
At some point, the player who led the NHL with 153 points, which was 25 more than his teammate Leon Draisaitl, will break out 5-on-5.
Oilers vs Kings Game 4 Best Bets
Oilers Moneyline (-160) • Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Edmonton has to have this one, they don’t want to head back home down 3-1 against this dangerous Kings lineup.
The Oilers continue to take too many penalties. The Kings scored both the game-tying, and game-winning goal Friday night with the man advantage.
Edmonton is cashing in on their chances with the extra man, they have four goals in eight power-plays in the series.
I think Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft will get his team to clean up the mistakes and cut down on the penalties in this key game, so I am taking the Oilers as my NHL bet of the day.
Over 6.5 Goals (+100) • Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
As I mentioned, the Oilers have four power-play goals in the series. The Kings also have four goals with the extra man as well, but they have had 15 power-play opportunities.
Both teams have proven they can put the puck in the net with the extra man. Edmonton led the NHL this season with 89 goals, the Kings were fourth with 68.
The referees should keep calling this series tight, giving these dangerous power plays extra opportunities – thus fueling the Over in Game 4.
Oilers vs Kings Game 3 Preview
We hit on all of our predictions for Game 2 of the Oilers and Kings, as Edmonton came out and took it 4-2 as we expected.
Game 3 shifts to Los Angeles, where the Kings look to grab some momentum back in the series.
This should be an entertaining and pivotal contest, and we have some favorable betting action in our Oilers vs. Kings Game 3 best bets.
Oilers vs Kings Game 3 Odds
NHL odds used for these best bets are current as of Thursday, April 20, at 10 a.m. ET, and were found at Caesars Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Oilers (-145) • Kings (+122)
- Puck Line: Kings +1.5 (-205) • Oilers -1.5 (+170)
- Total Goals Scored: Over 6.5 (+100) • Under 6.5 (-120)
Oilers vs Kings Game 3 Prediction
Oilers 4, Kings 3
The Oilers evened the series Wednesday night behind another strong effort from Leon Draisaitl, who had a goal and two assists.
Klim Kostin, who had 11 goals in the regular season, chipped in with the game-winning goal in the third period.
Edmonton still hasn’t gotten a 5-on-5 point from Connor McDavid in the series, but you can expect the NHL’s point leader will show up soon.
Oilers vs Kings Game 3 Best Bets
Over 6.5 Goals (+100) • Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 unit
I expect this game to have a little more offense than what we have seen in the series so far.
The Oilers are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games, and during that time they have averaged 4.1 goals per game. The Kings are averaging 2.7 goals per game in their last 10, which they have split 5-5.
Playoff hockey is a different style than the regular season, and while Philip Danault has done a great job shutting down McDavid, he’s going to break out at some point in the series.
I expect Friday will be the night, so I am taking the Over as my NHL top pick.
Oilers -0.5 First Period (+158) • Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
While the Kings are at home, I expect the Oilers to lead after the first period for the third straight game.
The Kings have been terrible in the first period of both of the previous games. Wednesday night Los Angeles managed to put just three shots on Oilers’ goaltender Stuart Skinner in the first period.
I can see the red-hot Draisaitl, or McDavid lighting the lamp in the first period, so the Oilers should be up by at least one goal at the end of one Friday night.
Oilers vs Kings Game 2 Preview
The Edmonton Oilers blew third-period leads of 2-0 and 3-1 on the way to a 4-3 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.
It’s a familiar situation for the Oilers, who lost the opening game of last year’s series with the Kings, before rebounding to win in seven games.
Game 2 should be just as entertaining as the series opener, and we’ve got some great NHL betting action in our Oilers vs Kings Game 2 best bets.
Oilers vs Kings Game 2 Odds
NHL betting lines used for these best bets are current as of Wednesday, April 19, at 8 a.m. ET, and were found at Caesars Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Oilers (-235) • Kings (+192)
- Puck Line: Oilers -1.5 (+118) • Kings +1.5 (-140)
- Total Goals Scored: Over 6.5 (-105) • Under 6.5 (-115)
Oilers vs Kings Game 2 Prediction
Oilers 4, Kings 2
The Kings kept Connor McDavid completely off the scoresheet Monday night in Edmonton. McDavid was only blanked six other times this season, and one of those times was also against the Kings.
McDavid had 45 games this season where he had multi-point games, on his way to an NHL-leading 153 points, but none of them were against the Kings.
Expect the All-Star forward to be extra motivated to get on the scoresheet tonight to help propel the Oilers past this gritty Kings squad.
Oilers vs Kings Game 2 Best Bets
Under 6.5 Goals (-115) • Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Edmonton led 3-1 with less than 10 minutes to go on Monday night, before the penalties gave the Kings a chance to get back in the game.
For the Oilers to win they’re going to have to stay out of the penalty box. Edmonton took seven penalties on Monday night, two of which led to late power-play goals that sent the game to overtime, where they eventually lost.
I see the Oilers tightening things up tonight, and winning the game, but the moneyline doesn’t provide the same value as the total, so I am taking the Under as my NHL best bet.
Oilers -0.5 First Period (+135) • Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Down one game in the series, the Oilers are going to have to set the tone in Game 2.
I expect Edmonton to come out sharp early and win the first period just like they did in Game 1, where they led 2-0 after one period on goals by Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard.
The Oilers should be up by at least one goal after the first period as they look to get back on track tonight at home.
Oilers vs Kings Game 1 Preview
Familiarity can breed contempt, and for the second straight year, the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings will meet in the first round of the NHL Playoffs in a series that should see plenty of offense.
If you’re looking for even more great NHL betting action, check out our Oilers vs Kings bets.
Oilers vs Kings Game 1 Odds
NHL betting information used for these best bets are current as of Monday, April 17, at 10 a.m. ET and were found at Caesars Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Oilers (-195) • Kings (+162)
- Puck Line: Kings +1.5 (-165) • Oilers -1.5 (+140)
- Total Goals Scored: Over 6.5 (-110) • Under 6.5 (-110)
Oilers vs Kings Game 1 Prediction
Oilers 4, Kings 2
The Edmonton Oilers come into the playoffs as the hottest team in the NHL, playing even better than the President’s Trophy-winning Boston Bruins.
The Oilers are 16-2-1 since the trade deadline, and two of those wins - a 2-0 shutout at home and a 3-1 win on the road - came against the Kings in the last 18 days.
Edmonton comes into the game having won their last nine regular season games, and I don’t see the streak stopping tonight.
Oilers vs Kings Game 1 Best Bets
Oilers Moneyline (-195) • Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Oilers have gotten stellar goaltending from Stuart Skinner over the past month, and Edmonton is exceptionally dangerous on special teams, far and away leading the league in power-play goals.
Edmonton had 89 power-play goals during the regular season, compared to 68 for the Kings. Even while on the penalty kill, the Oilers proved to be dangerous, leading the NHL with 18 short-handed goals, compared to seven for the Kings.
To have a chance tonight the Kings have to stay out of the box and not give Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Zach Hyman chances with the extra man. Each of them had double-figures in power-play goals this year, and Draisaitl led the league with 32.
Playoff hockey is a different animal, so I can see the Kings doing a good job keeping this close until an Oilers empty-net goal seals another win for Edmonton for our NHL bet of the day.
Oilers vs Kings Series Preview
For the second straight year, the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings meet in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Last year, the Oilers stormed back to win in seven games.
This year, we’re expecting another outstanding series between two teams that split their season series at two games apiece.
If you’re looking for the best NHL props bets, be sure to check out our Oilers vs Kings prop bets.
Oilers vs Kings Series Odds
To Win Series: Oilers (-270) • Kings (+215)
Lines used for these best bets are current as of Sunday, April 16, as of 11 a.m. ET and were found at Caesars Sportsbook.
The Oilers come into the series as the hottest team in the league, winners of nine of their last 10 games and with home-ice advantage in the series.
Los Angeles is 5-5 in their last 10 games, led by Adrian Kempe, who posted seven goals and 11 points in that span.
Oilers vs Kings Series Prediction
Oilers win 4-1
The focus will be on Edmonton’s All-Star forward Connor McDavid and for good reason.
This year, McDavid became just the sixth player in NHL history to put up 150 points in a season. His 153 points are the 15th most in any NHL season.
But the key to Edmonton’s success may be defenseman Mattias Ekholm. After Edmonton traded for Ekholm from Nashville, the team went on a 16-2-1 run, with the Swedish standout providing a steady presence on the blueline.
Oilers vs Kings Series Best Bets
Oilers Win Series (-270) • Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Oilers ranked first in the NHL in power-play goals, and they have three 100-point scorers in McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Neither team boasts goaltending that can steal a win by itself, but Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner has played very well in the last month, with a 2.20 goals against average, and a save percentage of .922.
Edmonton’s high-powered offense, as well as Skinner’s emergence, should be enough for the Oilers to take down the Kings for the second straight season.
I’m taking the Oilers in five.
