There was talk after Game 4, especially how it unfolded, about whether the favoured Oilers had stolen momentum away from the Kings in such a manner that would be difficult for the Californian club to fight back from. Game 5 might have been the earliest hint of our answer, as Edmonton pounded LA into submission 6-3. Now Jay Woodcroft’s side returns to Los Angeles with a 3-2 series lead.

The hockey savants believe the series will end Saturday night. Edmonton is pegged at -181 on the moneyline and +134 on the puckline, as per the NHL odds. The total is established at 6.5.

Oilers vs. Kings NHL Playoffs Betting Odds

A year ago, these clubs were in the opposite situation. The Kings were gifted a glorious opportunity to do away with the Oilers at home but couldn’t commit the deed. They had to travel back to Edmonton for a deciding Game 7, which proved to be their undoing. Not that the Oilers have nothing to worry about if they lose Game 6, but there is comfort in knowing the ultimate game is in their arena, should that date be required.

After the under pulled through in the second and third bouts, the over connected in the last two. There has been no striking trend so far. Both the over and the under have won out in Edmonton and LA through five games. A few more goals have been scored since Game 4 so maybe both offences have found their groove for what remains of their tête-à-tête.

Edmonton Oilers

One wouldn’t think it when seeing Game 5’s final score of 6-3, but the Kings outshot the Oilers 28-27. For the better part of half a match, Edmonton found itself in exactly the kind of heavyweight bout it slugged its way through the first four times.

In fact, the first period played out like a microcosm of the series itself. Evander Kane (third, on the powerplay) and Leon Draisaitl (sixth) got on the scoresheet barely two minutes apart for a 2-0 Oilers lead. But no team has had an easy ride with early leads so far, and like clockwork, the Kings fought back not once, but twice to make it 3-2 after one period (Brett Kulak scored Edmonton’s third). It was the middle stanza that changed everything. For the first time in the entire series the Oilers truly took command, scoring twice through Nick Bjugstad (first) and Zach Hyman (second, also on the power play). This was a 5-2 lead that would not devolve into a desperate shootout. The Oilers even padded their advantage in the final period with Bjugstad’s second of the night. Edmonton was sharper and deadlier during their final 40 minutes en route to a 6-3 win. They’ll need that style of play just one more time.

Los Angeles Kings

Game 6 and its context is the sort of scenario in which a lot can be assessed about a club. After 20 minutes in Game 4, the Kings led 3-0 and were holding a 2-1 edge in the series. Now, it’s a 3-2 deficit following their worst loss so far.

So which Los Angeles Kings show up at home Saturday? A team with no more life or the one that’s played the favoured Oilers tough until Game 5? As alluded to in the section above, the numbers don’t lie; LA outshot Edmonton in the previous match. It still didn’t help matters in a decisive 6-3 defeat. The performance was decent in the first 20 minutes despite trailing 3-2. Alex Iafallo (third) and Adrian Kempe (fourth) both tallied. It sent a message that, as per usual, LA would not go down without a fight. Only nothing went their way for the rest of the game. The fanbase hopes that was an outlier and not how the rest of the series will go. If the latter, it will indeed conclude in Game 6.

Game 6 Prediction: Who Will Win Oilers vs. Kings?

OILERS

Away

4

KINGS

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