10:10 pm
May 14

Kings @ Oilers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Kings (44-27-11)

@ Edmonton Oilers (49-27-6)

 

Starting Goalies:

Jonathan Quick (LAK): Unconfirmed

Mike Smith (EDM): Unconfirmed

 

Current odds:

Los Angeles Kings: (+175)

Edmonton Oilers: (-213)

 

• The Edmonton Oilers have both momentum and home-ice advantage going their way when they play host to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday in Game 7 of their Western Conference first-round series. The favored Oilers, who are looking to win a series for the first time since 2017, will not underestimate the mental aspect of the challenge ahead against a team that has managed to claw its way through the matchup.

• Edmonton is 6-4 in all-time Game 7s, with a 3-1 home record. The Kings have a 7-4 mark in Game 7 clashes, including a 5-3 road record.

• The Oilers forced the deciding game with Thursday’s 4-2 road victory, in which Evander Kane scored twice to give him seven goals in the series. Connor McDavid collected one goal and two assists to give him a league-best 12 points in the playoffs, and Tyson Barrie scored the game-winning goal with five minutes remaining.

• Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse will return to the lineup after he served his one-game suspension for head-butting Phillip Danault in Game 5.

• However, Oilers star forward Leon Draisaitl missed Saturday morning’s skate with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision, according to the Los Angeles Times. Woodcroft declined to comment on Draisaitl’s status.

• The Kings, who finished five points behind the Oilers in the regular season for third place in the Pacific Division, wasted an opportunity to clinch the series on home ice Thursday. They fell behind early, then erased a 2-0 deficit only to allow a late goal.

• Kopitar is one of only a few players remaining from the Kings’ Stanley Cup winning teams of 2012 and ’14, and the lesson he wants his teammates to learn is to focus on their first shift and nothing else.

• The Kings hoped 20-goal scorer Viktor Arvidsson would suit up at some point in the series, but he’s been ruled out due to injury.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Edmonton Oilers
Previous Pick
Next Pick