Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs LA Kings (P3) | LAK lead 1-0

[Fourier]

Kings in 7. One of the few upsets in round one.

Oilers are just not a complete enough team, and they rely to heavily on the PP. The playoff refs won't give out as many PP opportunities, and a vet team like LA knows how to limit their hooks and holds when it counts.

Pretty much any first round series can go in an unexpected way so I won't make a prediction. But you may want to look at what you wrote. PP opportunities have gone up in the playoffs in comparison with the regular season over the last decade or so and a larger percentage of goals are scored on the pp in the playoffs as compared to the regular season.

The Oilers are overall also the more experienced team.

 

[Tad Mikowsky]

Injuries will dictate this series, much like last year LA is going in with some key players hurt

I’m glad you have Oilers season tickets. Thank you for supporting a team that you hate.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Well hopefully we have Fiala and Vilardi back.

Last year no Doughty and Arvidsson.

 

[Homesick]

Kings in 7. One of the few upsets in round one.

Oilers are just not a complete enough team, and they rely to heavily on the PP. The playoff refs won't give out as many PP opportunities, and a vet team like LA knows how to limit their hooks and holds when it counts.

Woooo, what other jokes do you have?

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Kings in 6 but not willing to put money on it

 

[LAKings88]

Hearing a lot about the last two matches in the season.

Kings are a different animal with Fiala and Gabe. Still hopeful both will play but I’m guessing they will be about 80% healthy.

Without them, the Oilers can key in on Kopi.

Danault’s line needs to step up offense even with tasked to shut down McDavid. Arvidsson didn’t play last year.

The Oilers are bigger and more physical, LA needs to find a way to push through that.

Doughty is in this year. I’m hoping for all world Drew to show up.

I have no idea what to expect from LA’s goalies.

McDavid basically willed them to win last year. He seems to be in another gear this year. He is scary. Danault will need to earn his paycheck.

 

[Crabapple]

How many times do we need to teach you this lesson old man! Honestly my least wanted round 1 matchup, Kings play us hard every game. Will be a great challenge for round 1.

 

[HugginThePost]

Hopefully the Oilers can get through the series this year without anybody getting slewfooted after the whistle. If nothing else at least I won't have to watch Duncan Keith feeding the Kings pucks this time.

So, Drai won't be playing?? Is he hurt?

 

[Three On Zero]

Well hopefully we have Fiala and Vilardi back.

Last year no Doughty and Arvidsson.

Quit making excuses already

I’m glad you have Oilers season tickets. Thank you for supporting a team that you hate.

I think they support me more than I support them

 

[Zerotonine]

Oilers in 5, kings win game 3 and that's all folks....

 

[Putt Pirate]

Kings in 7.

 

[tfwnogf]

Kane is healthy and hungry for more goals

 

[PensandCaps]

I see zero chance at LA winning this. Especially with their goalies.

 

[Nostradumbass]

This is going to be a tight checking series decided by a bunch of 1-goal games.

 

[banks]

Pretty much any first round series can go in an unexpected way so I won't make a prediction. But you may want to look at what you wrote. PP opportunities have gone up in the playoffs in comparison with the regular season over the last decade or so and a larger percentage of goals are scored on the pp in the playoffs as compared to the regular season.

The Oilers are overall also the more experienced team.

The stats say that, yes. That's because a long series gets lots of roughing type calls in scrums after whistles. Those animosity type penalties skew the numbers. But I'm talking minor penalties here. I specifically said hooking and holding. LA will be disciplined, and won't give Edmonton as much PP time as they're used to, in my opinion.

And how are the Oilers the more experienced team? Doughty and Kopitar won 2 Cups together. Who has that kind of experience in Edmonton? Just because the Oilers went to the WCF last season? When a team needs to add experience they don't say "get me someone who lost in the conference final recently". They want Cup winners.

 

[McShogun99]

I think whoever wins this series will make it to the cup final.

 

[Mr Positive]

The Kings will turn this into a grind. But, the Oilers are not some soft team, and they aren't defensively weak anymore

This series will be decided by special teams. Oilers in 5

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

A lot of bad blood between these two clubs. They're going to beat the hell out of each other. Whoever wins, hopefully they don't come out too battered and bruised going into round 2.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Injuries will dictate this series, much like last year LA is going in with some key players hurt

Oilers had key players hurt last year too.

Doesn’t fit your narrative though

 

[cyberpunk]

Even their streak is hard to judge because it came largely against teams that they were supposed to beat. Since their last win against the Oilers in January they haven't seemed to have done particularly well against legitimate playoff competition.

But still the last 2 Oilers/Kings games were 1 goal games for the majority of the clock.

In the past 20 games, Oilers are 6-2 vs playoff teams with a 7 4 loss to the leafs and I think a 4 3 loss to Vegas.

They beat LV, Dallas, Kings x2, Avs and Boston so you are telling me they can't handle the playoff teams? Someone is under estimating the Oilers here.

 

[David Lunch]

Kings fan here. Oilers in 6 if the Kings can get (and stay) fully healthy, it gets it closer to jump-ball range, but EDM is really rolling right now.

 

[innitfam]

LA is overmatched here. Edmonton in 5 with a couple blowouts.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

In the past 20 games, Oilers are 6-2 vs playoff teams with a 7 4 loss to the leafs and I think a 4 3 loss to Vegas.

They beat LV, Dallas, Kings x2, Avs and Boston so you are telling me they can't handle the playoff teams? Someone is under estimating the Oilers here.

He’s talking about the kings.

He’s an oilers fan

 

[cyberpunk]

My bad, kings are 4 and 4 against play of teams with 2 losses to the Oilers. Should be a good match up regardless.

 

[Mr Positive]

A lot of bad blood between these two clubs. They're going to beat the hell out of each other. Whoever wins, hopefully they don't come out too battered and bruised going into round 2.

Meh. The Kings are not that big and tough. If they want to turn this into a physical match up the Oilers will win it, and that invites special teams to play a big factor, and then the Kings have no chance in this series

The only chance the Kings have is to play a tight checking responsible game with no mistakes, and hope the Oilers will make a lot of mistakes

Also goaltending might decide things. Skinner has been great but he's young so you never know.