Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers Pick & Prediction MAY 1st 2025
Preview and Prediction
The Edmonton Oilers have a prime opportunity to advance to the next round of the Stanley Cup playoffs as they prepare to face the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.
With three consecutive wins and a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference first-round series, the Oilers have the chance to eliminate the Kings for the fourth year in a row in front of their loyal fans.
Coach Kris Knoblauch expressed excitement for the upcoming game, but also acknowledged the strength of the Kings and the importance of maintaining a high level of play. He stressed the need for the same effort shown in Tuesday's 3-1 victory, where the Oilers dominated the Kings with a 46-22 shot margin.
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The series has taken a dramatic turn, with the Oilers coming back from a 2-0 deficit to win the last three games. In Game 4, they tied the game in the third period and ultimately won in overtime.
Forward Zach Hyman emphasized the importance of staying focused and not getting caught up in the emotional highs of a win. He stated that the team's mindset is solely focused on the opportunity to close out the series at home.
Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl has the chance to break a league record, as he has recorded a point in 19 consecutive playoff games against the Kings. This ties him with Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier for the longest point streak against a single team. Draisaitl has an impressive 17 goals and 19 assists in this streak.
The Kings are facing a must-win situation against a team that has consistently defeated them in the playoffs. They also need to find their footing after a lackluster performance in Game 5. Despite being the best home team in the league, the Kings were outplayed and relied heavily on their goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who made 43 saves.
Los Angeles coach Jim Hiller did not mince words when discussing the team's performance in Game 5. He acknowledged that the Oilers were simply the better team in all aspects of the game, except for special teams.
The Kings, who finished ahead of the Oilers in the regular season to earn home-ice advantage, have struggled in more ways than one in this series. Edmonton has outscored them 13-5 in the third periods of all five games and has dominated play in the last five periods.
Captain Anze Kopitar recognized the team's struggles in Game 5, citing the lack of offensive-zone time and momentum as key factors. He expressed the need to improve and make adjustments in order to have a chance at winning the series.
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Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers Recap APR 14TH 2025
The Los Angeles Kings clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 5-0 road victory on Tuesday over the Edmonton Oilers, their opposition to kick off the championship race.
Adrian Kempe scored once in a three-point performance, while Warren Foegele and Kevin Fiala both collected one goal and one assist for the Kings (47-24-9, 103 points). Quinton Byfield and Vladislav Gavrikov also scored.
Los Angeles goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 16 saves before being replaced by David Rittich midway through the third period. Rittich stopped five shots to share the shutout.
Trevor Moore and Anze Kopitar both notched a pair of assists for the Kings, who have won three in a row and seven of the past eight.
The Kings and Oilers will face each other in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Edmonton won the three prior meetings and had home-ice advantage each time.
Calvin Pickard stopped 31 shots for Edmonton (47-29-5, 99 points), which was without Leon Draisaitl and Mattias Ekholm due to injuries and rested Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman in anticipation of the playoffs.
Los Angeles has two games remaining in the regular season. Edmonton has one left.
Foegele, a former Oiler, opened the scoring at the 2:55 mark of the clash when he converted a rebound for his 23rd goal of the season.
Byfield doubled the lead near the midway point of the opening period by deflecting the point shot for a power-play marker. Byfield has scored in four consecutive games and 23 times on the season.
Gavrikov extended the Los Angeles edge at 18:45 of the first period by joining a rush, taking a pass in the slot and whipping home a shot.
Fiala added another man-advantage marker at 7:43 of the second period, converting with a rocket of a one-timer from the right faceoff dot to net his career-high 35th goal of the campaign.
Kempe made it a five-goal edge at 8:13 of the third period with another one-timer, this one set up by Kopitar during an odd-man rush.
The chippy affair turned ugly late in the second period when Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse delivered a cross-check to the back of Byfield's head as the Kings forward was lying on the ice. Nurse was handed a major penalty and game misconduct, and Byfield did not return due to an upper-body injury.