The Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings are set to face off in the first round of the 2021 NHL playoffs. This series promises to be an exciting one, with both teams having their own strengths and weaknesses. In this comprehensive guide, we will take a closer look at the odds, preview, schedule, and prediction for the Oilers vs Kings series.
Odds
According to the latest odds, the Edmonton Oilers are the favorites to win the series. The odds currently stand at -200 for the Oilers and +170 for the Kings. This means that if you were to bet $100 on the Oilers, you would win $50 if they win the series. On the other hand, if you were to bet $100 on the Kings, you would win $170 if they win the series.
Preview
The Edmonton Oilers finished second in the North Division with a record of 35-19-2. They have one of the most potent offenses in the league, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid finished the regular season with 105 points (33 goals, 72 assists) in just 56 games, while Draisaitl had 84 points (31 goals, 53 assists) in 56 games. The Oilers also have a solid defense and goaltending, with Darnell Nurse and Tyson Barrie leading the way on defense and Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen sharing duties in net.
The Los Angeles Kings finished fourth in the West Division with a record of 21-28-7. They have a young and talented team, led by Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Kopitar finished the regular season with 50 points (17 goals, 33 assists) in 56 games, while Doughty had 28 points (8 goals, 20 assists) in 56 games. The Kings also have a solid goaltender in Jonathan Quick, who has been a key player for them in the playoffs in the past.
Schedule
The Oilers vs Kings series will be a best-of-seven series, with the winner advancing to the second round of the playoffs. The schedule for the series is as follows:
Game 1: May 15, 10:00 PM ET (at Edmonton)
Game 2: May 17, 10:00 PM ET (at Edmonton)
Game 3: May 19, TBD (at Los Angeles)
Game 4: May 21, TBD (at Los Angeles)
Game 5*: May 23, TBD (at Edmonton)
Game 6*: May 25, TBD (at Los Angeles)
Game 7*: May 27, TBD (at Edmonton)
*if necessary
Prediction
The Edmonton Oilers are the clear favorites to win this series, and for good reason. They have one of the best offenses in the league and a solid defense and goaltending. The Los Angeles Kings, on the other hand, have struggled this season and are not expected to put up much of a fight against the Oilers.
That being said, anything can happen in the playoffs, and the Kings could surprise everyone and pull off an upset. However, it is unlikely that they will be able to overcome the firepower of the Oilers. Our prediction for this series is that the Edmonton Oilers will win in five games and advance to the second round of the playoffs.
