Kings vs. Oilers Game 5 Prediction, NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Odds

Edgar Chaput | Updated Apr 30, 2024

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings

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On Wednesday night the Edmonton Oilers will have a chance to put the Los Angeles Kings to the sword in Game 5 of their first-round series.

Los Angeles
44-27-6-5
AT
May 01, 2024, 10:00 PM ET
Rogers Place
Edmonton
49-27-5-1
Puckline +1.5 -145
Moneyline +165
Over / Under o +6
Matchup Odds
Puckline -1.5 +120
Moneyline -200
Over / Under u +6
Matchup Odds

Edmonton leads the series 3-1, which arguably doesn’t surprise too many people even though the Round 1 matchups of the past two years were 2-2 at this stage. The Kings had a smart gameplan for Sunday’s Game 4 and it nearly worked, but the Oilers were just a bit too good, winning 1-0.

The NHL Playoff odds have the host Oilers as considerable -190 favourites on the moneyline, whereas the Kings are priced at +155.

Kings vs. Oilers NHL Betting Odds

It might be a bit late in the game to feel smart about picking Edmonton to finish off the series, but if one wants to live large, L.A. is a +1200 underdog!

As for in how many games it will happen, even the Kings pushing it to six is a considerable +350. That the Oilers lose two more times before finally sealing the deal in Game 7 is +800.

It’s playoff hockey, the time of year when missing game time is not an option. Surely there are players banged up, but everyone is keeping mum. There are still no major injuries to speak of, officially at least.

Los Angeles Kings

When one stops to think about it, Game 4 was the moment where the series could have and maybe should have changed gear. After seeing their defence and goaltending embarrassed three times, Los Angeles opted to clamp down significantly and make life tough on the Oilers.

It nearly worked. There aren’t many games when by the final whistle Edmonton was limited to 13 shots on target, but that’s just what happened in Game 4. The Kings gave their rivals almost no space to breath. Even replacing Cam Talbot with David Rittich in net didn’t matter much since he had so little to do. L.A. also walloped Edmonton for 44 hits and blocked 17 shots. But no one, not Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar, not Kevin Fiala could solve the mystery that was Stuart Skinner.

Moreover, the one mistake the Kings committed was the absolutely worst of all given what transpired in Games 1 through 3. They took a one single penalty and the Oilers scored. Make the final 1-0.

Edmonton Oilers

Conversely, the Oilers must be feeling great about themselves. Somehow for three games they were able to play what amounted to what we might see during the regular season. Defences are supposed to tighten up in the postseason and goals should be more difficult to come by.

Edmonton certainly didn’t look great in the traditional sense. They have to block plenty of shots (19), and Skinner was pestered all night. What’s more, offensively they were shut down, rarely able to venture into the Kings’ zone. When they did, it never amounted to much. But Game 4 was the kind of match a team with championship aspirations needs to play every so often in the playoffs. They won’t all come easy but as long as one comes out on top, then it’s a step closer to the ultimate goal.

Evan Bouchard (first) was the lone goal scorer. He ripped a shot near the blue line on a second period power play, with assists from Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. The Oilers’ powerplay is operating at 53.3 per cent so far in the payoffs.

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

NHL Predictions
SportsInteraction
  • LA
  • +165 -200
  • EDM
Matchup NHL Odds