LA came dangerously close to pulling the same trick they did in Game 1, coming back from 2-0 down to push the host Oilers to the brink but they fell short, losing 4-2. Now they get two games in the confines of Crypto.com Arena.

The NHL odds have pinned the visiting Oilers as -168 favourites on the moneyline and +152 on the puckline. The number crunching has set the total at 6.5.

Oilers vs. Kings NHL Playoffs Betting Odds

The series odds don’t give either team any massive advantage, although Jay Woodcroft’s Edmonton outfit still sits as a -238 favourite.

Flashback to a year ago on a Friday night in LA in Game 3 when the Oilers smashed the Kings 8-2 in a tilt that, especially after a 6-0 victory in Game 2, looked to have turned the tide significantly. Little did fans know that the series would still go the distance. It would appear as though teams’ familiarity with one other is paying dividends as far as delivering an exciting, unpredictable series. As referred to in our opening article for this series, even during the regular season the clubs traded wins and losses on each other’s home ice, adding to the feeling that anything can happen the rest of the way.

Edmonton Oilers

As for Game 2, one can argue that Edmonton was the better side. Granted, the Oilers’ fourth goal was an empty netter, but the close score had a lot to do with Joonas Korpisalo’s fine play.

Edmonton outshot the visitors 37-24, spending more time in LA’s defensive zone than LA spent in theirs. Come to think of it, the game resembled last year’s Game 7, won 2-0 by the Oilers. It was a close final score, but the hosts always looked to have a bit more pep in their step. It was understandable. Going to Los Angeles down 0-2 would have been unforgivable with all the firepower the Oilers have. Two stats stand out and, as we’ve written before, they’re special teams related. The number one power play in the NHL was only gifted a single opportunity all game long. Guess what? They scored off a Leon Draisaitl (third) one-timer in the first period that made it 2-0 after Derek Ryan’s (first) earlier marker. Conversely, Edmonton committed four penalties, but LA’s fourth-best powerplay could not cash in on any chances. Klim Kostin’s game-winning goal came a bit out of nowhere in the third period. It was a good wrister, but came from a decent distance to Korpisalo’s right yet somehow fooled him.

Los Angeles Kings

A change of scenery may do the Kings some good. They got the split on the road, which is the minimum standard that underdog road teams aspire to with games 1 and 2. Even so, as the second contest evolved, it looked like the Oilers grew more comfortable and upped the intensity. Conversely, the Kings struggled to respond.

It is fair to argue that the above criticism reads as strange given that up until an empty net goal, it was a 3-2 contest. The argument is not that the Kings played poorly, but they lacked some of the moxie they sported in the first encounter. A closer look at their two goals from Phillip Danault and Gabriel Vilardi reveals that Stuart Skinner could and perhaps should have had both. The second, Vilardi’s, was an especially odd one. The King showed some good hustle to work his way past the Oiler defence to the goalie’s right side, but how the puck slipped under Stuart’s skate and pad from such a tight angle is anyone’s guess. The good news is that the series is tied 1-1, but a better effort will be necessary at home on Friday.

Game 3 Prediction: Who Will Win Oilers vs. Kings?

OILERS

Away

3

KINGS

Home

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