This has been the most breathtaking first-round series of the bunch. Three games out of four required overtime and the only one that didn’t had its 4-2 final padded by an empty net goal. Even the ebbs and flows within matches are fascinating, and Game 4 arguably took the cake as the Oilers came back from 3-0 and 4-3 down to win 5-4 in overtime.

Edmonton heads into Game 5 as a -245 favourite on the NHL odds.

Kings vs. Oilers NHL Playoffs Betting Odds

Where this series goes is anybody’s guess, but Vegas seems to have a plausible idea, as Jaw Woodcroft’s Oilers are still slim -256 favourites, compared to the Kings at +224. The Alberta-based unit holds an edge given that the series is now a best-of-three and that two of the remaining contests would be at home – should so many be required.

Game 4 was the kind of match that could potentially derail a series. With a 3-0 lead, playing superior hockey at home, with a 3-1 series lead in their sights, Los Angeles now has to pick up the pieces of a heartbreaking defeat, a tied series and a game on the road. Then again, last year’s first round series was equally difficult to predict. The Oilers rampaged the Kings in the third tilt 8-2, yet LA fought back the next time and won 4-0.

Los Angeles Kings

This was a bitter pill to swallow. For three games and one-third of another LA was doing a splendid job at limiting the potential damage that their rivals’ offence can inflict. The strikes were predominantly limited to powerplay chances.

Cruising 3-0 at the first intermission, there was a whiff in the air that the series’ balance was shifting. Well, it was, only no one could predict in which sense momentum was on the precipice of changing. Gabriel Vilardi (second), Viktor Arvidsson (first) and Anze Kopitar (second, powerplay) had all tallied in the opening frame. Kopitar’s marker was a sure sign that LA wanted to contest more. The Oilers lost three puck battles before the disc landed on his stick for him to make a smooth move to outdo a sprawling Stuart Skinner. But then the Kings provided the visitors with a chance to get back into the game with a penalty early in the second period, with Edmonton happy to oblige. 3-0 became 3-1 and the match was never the same. Matt Roy’s first of the playoffs in the third period was courtesy of a sumptuous breakout from the Kings’ zone, but even that couldn’t diminish their opponent’s spirit.

Edmonton Oilers

That was certainly one way to snatch back momentum. If the Oilers make it through to the second round of the playoffs or even win the Stanley Cup, they can look back at Game 4 on the road against the Kings as a turning point.

The opening 20 minutes could not have gone any worse. All three Kings goals spoke to the ills that plagued the Oilers: lack of attention to detail and hustle. Whatever energy the visitors put into their game, it wasn’t good enough. We can only speculate as to what the dressing room conversation was like during the first intermission, but the team wasn’t the same the rest of the evening – literally, in a sense, given Jack Campbell replaced Skinner. Even Bouchard (second) pounded a one-timer on the powerplay to get his side on the board and Leon Draisaitl once again haunted the Kings with a brace (fourth and fifth). Even going down 4-3 in the third didn’t deter the team, as Evander Kane (second) sniped a brilliant shot with three minutes left to send the game to extra time. That’s when Zach Hyman netted his first of the postseason to lift Edmonton to a 5-4 win and a series deadlock.

Game 5 Prediction: Who Will Win Kings vs. Oilers?

KINGS

Away

3

OILERS

Home

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