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The Los Angeles Kings will play the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs starting April 21, the National Hockey League confirmed on Friday.
This will be the fourth consecutive year in which the two teams have met in the division semifinals. The NHL’s division-based playoff format, adopted in 2014, has resulted in the Oilers and Kings facing off each year since the COVID-era Northern Division was abolished in 2022.
The Oilers have won each matchup in more convincing fashion than the last. A seven-game series in 2022 was followed by a six-game win in 2023, and then five games last year. Unlike in previous years, though, the Kings were the better regular-season team this time around.
Schedule:
- GAME 1 @LAK – Monday, April 21, 7 p.m. PT
- GAME 2 @LAK – Wednesday, April 23, 7 p.m. PT
- GAME 3 @EDM – Friday, April 25, 7 p.m. PT
- GAME 4 @EDM – Sunday, April 27, 6:30 p.m. PT
- GAME 5 @LAK – Tuesday April 29, TBD
- GAME 6 @EDM – Thursday May 1, TBD
- GAME 7 @LAK – Saturday, May 3, TBD
Times for the final three games will be announced if they are needed.
Storylines to watch
Kings home ice advantage:
Unlike the last three years, the Kings will be the home team for the majority of matches. The first two games of the series will take place in L.A., as well as games five and seven, should they be necessary.
The team’s elite-level defensive play this year improved its result by six points, good enough to beat Edmonton for second place in the Pacific Division.
That’s important for this Kings team, which posted a league-best 31-6-4 record at home, but went 17-19-5 on the road. Being the home team will allow the Kings to change lines after their opponents, potentially allowing them to keep the Oilers’ megastars matched up against their best defenders.
Oilers injuries:
The Oilers are one of the league’s premier offensive teams. However, they have been restrained late in the season by a spate of injuries to their star players.
Connor McDavid, a three-time MVP and five-time scoring leader, and Leon Draisaitl, a favorite for MVP this year, were both held out of the lineup for several weeks near the end of the season. Lingering injuries could affect what promises to be a grueling postseason for them.
However, McDavid has returned in top form, with a stunning eleven points in his last five games. Because of that, he notched his eighth 100-point season, becoming only the fourth player ever to do so.
Goaltending:
The Kings have had trouble in net ever since they traded Jonathan Quick in 2023. This year, though, they may have found an answer to their problem.
Darcy Kuemper has posted a 2.02 Goals-Against Average, second among goalies with 25 or more games played. His .922 Save Percentage ranks third.
The Oilers, meanwhile, have been unable to find a dependable netminder. Starting goalie Calvin Pickard has a below-average .896 Save Percentage, and backup Stuart Skinner has barely played better.
Still, the Oilers went to the Stanley Cup Finals last year with average goaltending, and have improved their defense corps since then.
Odds:
The Oilers are slight favorites, according to oddsmakers. However, the series is projected to be close. The over/under for series length is set at 5.5 games.
The Athletic’s statistical model favors the kings by the slimmest of margins, 50.2% to 49.8% for the Oilers. It also projects a 6- or 7-game series.
This may be the Kings’ best opportunity to vanquish their recent rivals. With an injured opponent and newfound chemistry among their players, the opportunity is there for the taking.
