Preview of Oilers vs Kings Game 2: Predictions, Odds, & Starting Goalies for Wednesday Night Hockey

• The Kings won a wild Game 1 6-5 to take a 1-0 series lead over the Oilers and are -125 favorites in Game 2, Wednesday, April 23rd
• Edmonton will receive a boost with Evander Kane’s return after missing the entire season
• Read below for my Oilers vs Kings Game 2 preview, with odds and a prediction

For the fourth straight season, the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings will renew hostilities in Round 1 of the NHL Playoffs. Edmonton won all three times, but Los Angeles had a great start to reverse the curse with an absolutely bonkers Game 1, which saw a near-epic comeback, won 6-5 by LA. However, Edmonton will have major reinforcements with Evander Kane and John Klingberg drawing in, only adding to the intrigue of the series.

In Game 1, the Oilers were 125 moneyline favorites, but fell behind by four goals and were able to erase the deficit before losing 6-5 on a goal in the final minute of regulation.

Puck drop for Game 2 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles is scheduled for 10:00 pm ET, with coverage on TBS/Max in the United States and CBC, along with Sportsnet in Canada.

Oilers vs Kings Game 2 Odds

In the Oilers vs Kings Game 2 odds, LA is a -125 moneyline favorite, giving them a 55.56% implied win probability to take the first two contests in Tinseltown. A $125 bet would profit $100 if they’re victorious. Conversely, a $100 wager on +105 Oilers would return $105.

Our SBD formula has the home squad holding serve 3.29-3.08, meaning the road adversaries would cover the puck line, and it would go over the 6-goal total. In the 2025 Stanley Cup odds, Los Angeles’ best price can be found at BetMGM at +1200 to win it all, while Edmonton is +1600 at BetMGM.

Odds as of April 23, 2025, at Sports Interaction. Check out the topNHL betting apps for Oilers vs Kings.

Oilers Receiving Reinforcements in Game 2

The long-awaited return of Evander Kane is finally upon us, and he’s expected to be playing in the top-six after missing all season following knee surgery. He can provide scoring and a necessary snarl to bring a physical presence. Blueliner John Klingberg has puck-moving ability, which should help the back end, and he’s drawing in. Jeff Skinner and Josh Brown are expected to be healthy scratches.

The other important news is that the Oilers will stick with their #1 netminder in Stuart Skinner, despite a shaky Game 1. In seven career Game 1’s, he hasn’t been sharp, losing five of them, with a GAA of 3.80 and a save percentage of .866.

Late in the second period of Game 1, the Kings were up 4-0 and well on their way to a decisive victory. Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid had other ideas, and nearly willed the Oilers to a comeback for the ages. Draisaitl scored in the waning seconds of the second frame, then with 2:04 left in regulation, Zach Hyman buried a chance in front, set up by McDavid. Moments later, McDavid drove to the net and potted the equalizer, stunning Crypto.com Arena.

The Kings were then extremely fortunate that a fluttering puck somehow made its way past Stuart Skinner with 42 seconds left, and Philip Danault’s marker held up as the winner. Which Skinner will show in Game 2 will be a dominant storyline to focus on for tonight’s tilt.

Special Teams A Factor In First Matchup

In the regular season, the Kings struggled with the man advantage, ranking 27th, but in Game 1, they netted two goals on five opportunities. Contrast that to Edmonton, who failed on both their chances. If LA can continue that mastery on the power play, Oil Country might be in big trouble, given that the Kings were eighth on the PK in the regular season.

Despite there being eleven combined goals in the first duel, LA does have the considerable advantage between the pipes, with 2022 Stanley Cup champion Darcy Kuemper ranking second in save percentage (.922) and GAA (2.02) among goalies with 50 starts. Skinner had an .896 save % and 2.81 GAA on the campaign, and, as mentioned, is quite inconsistent.

Oilers vs Kings Regular Season Head-to-Head Stats

Oilers vs Kings Game 2 Prediction

In the last three postseason meetings, the team that won Game 1 ultimately lost the next game, with the Oilers tying the series at 1 -1 in 2022 and 2023, and LA doing the same in 2024. Despite the Kings winning four of five meetings this year, it’s hard to go against an Oilers squad that made it all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last year, especially when they’re an underdog.

Why not select the Oilers to knot things up at one game aside for the fourth straight year in the postseason? I love the value they’re presenting at +105, particularly with the jolt of energy they’ll receive getting Evander Kane back, and the veteran rearguard John Klingberg.

Dating back to last postseason, the last five times goaltender Stuart Skinner has allowed 4+ goals, he’s followed that up by surrendering no more than three on all those occasions, four of which were two or fewer markers. More importantly, he’s won all five contests in that scenario.

EDM-LA Prediction:

• Oilers ML (+105)

Enjoyed this preview? Here’s more NHL playoff content:

The Edmonton Oilers will face off against the Los Angeles Kings in Game 2 of their series on Wednesday night, and fans are eagerly anticipating another exciting matchup between these two teams. After a thrilling Game 1 that saw the Oilers come out on top with a 3-2 victory, both teams will be looking to make adjustments and come out strong in Game 2.

In terms of predictions, the Oilers are favored to win Game 2 based on their strong performance in Game 1. With Connor McDavid leading the charge for Edmonton, the Oilers have a potent offense that can put up goals in a hurry. However, the Kings are a resilient team with plenty of talent of their own, so this game could easily go either way.

As for the odds, the Oilers are currently listed as -150 favorites to win Game 2, while the Kings are sitting at +130 underdogs. This means that oddsmakers believe the Oilers have a slightly better chance of coming out on top in this matchup, but anything can happen in hockey and the Kings will be looking to prove the doubters wrong.

In terms of starting goalies, it is expected that Mike Smith will get the nod for the Oilers in Game 2. Smith has been solid between the pipes for Edmonton this season, posting a 2.54 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. On the other side, the Kings will likely turn to Jonathan Quick to start in net. Quick has been a stalwart for Los Angeles for many years and will be looking to bounce back after a tough loss in Game 1.

Overall, Game 2 between the Oilers and Kings is shaping up to be another exciting contest between two talented teams. With predictions favoring the Oilers and both teams hungry for a win, fans can expect a hard-fought battle on Wednesday night. Be sure to tune in to see which team comes out on top in this crucial matchup.