Phil Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 (2P) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3P) Los Angeles Kings REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Oilers: 49-27-6, 104 points Kings: 44-27-11, 99 points SEASON SERIES: EDM 3-1-0; LAK 1-2-1 GAME BREAKERS: Oilers: McDavid will become the seventh player in NHL history with at least four scoring titles (Wayne Gretzky, 10; Mario Lemieux, six; Gordie Howe, six; Phil Esposito, five; Jaromir Jagr, five; Stan Mikita, four). His NHL career-best season was the fifth time he's scored at least 100 points in the regular season. The 25-year-old has 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 21 playoff games. Kings: Adrian Kempe has been a streaky scorer this season but finished with a career-best 35 goals and seven game-winners to lead the Kings. The 25-year-old has elite speed and plays both special teams for Los Angeles. Kempe scored 54 points (35 goals, 19 assists) in 78 games to post the best point total of his career despite a slow start with one assist in his first six games and a second-half slump, going pointless in 10 games between Feb. 26-March 15. GOALTENDING: Oilers: Mike Smith (16-9-2, 2.81 goals against average, .915 save percentage, two shutouts in 28 games) has had a strong second half after missing most of the first half due to injury. Smith, 40, won nine straight games (April 1-26) to tie Jacques Plante for the longest win streak in NHL history by a goalie aged 40 or older. Mikko Koskinen (27-12-4, 3.10 GAA, .903 save percentage, one shutout in 45 games) is the backup. Kings: Jonathan Quick (23-13-9, 2.59 GAA, .910 save percentage, two shutouts in 46 games) is the Kings starter. The 36-year-old has extensive playoff experience; (46-39, 2.23 GAA, .922 save percentage, nine shutouts in 85 games) but has not had a playoff start since April 17, 2018. He won the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2012 and 2014. Cal Petersen (20-14-2, 2.89 GAA, .895 save percentage, three shutouts in 37 games) is the backup. X FACTORS: Oilers: Kailer Yamamoto. This will be the 23-year-old's third trip to the playoffs, with one assist in eight previous games. Yamamoto had 41 points (20 goals, 21 assists) in 81 regular-season games but averaged fewer than 1.5 shots per game (114 shots in 81 games). That's a low number for a top-six forward but if he can find the mark a little more given the quality minutes he plays, it could make a major difference for Edmonton. Kings: Viktor Arvidsson. The 29-year-old is in the postseason for the seventh straight year and he's found a way to contribute in the past, with 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 61 playoff games for the Nashville Predators between 2016-21. Arvidsson is coming of a season in which he scored 49 points (20 goals, 29 assists) in 66 games and his ability to create and finish opportunities enhances the Kings' chances. WILL WIN IF: Oilers: McDavid and Draisaitl are always going to get their opportunities but Edmonton's success will be more dependent on how well it defends. The Oilers chances go up proportionately with how much they improve on the 3.75 goals against per game they allowed in their past two postseason appearances, both losses in the opening round. Kings: Strong goaltending and alert defending keep the Oilers' stars from lighting up the scoreboard. A run-and-gun series won't favor Los Angeles, which scored an average of 2.87 goals per game this season compared to Edmonton's 3.48, but it will still need down-the-lineup offensive contributions. MORE: https://www.nhl.com/news/edmonton-oilers-los-angeles-kings-first-round-playoff-series-preview/c-333638342?tid=333424366 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted May 2, 2022 Author Share Posted May 2, 2022 Oilers in six. McDavid-Draisaitl show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrooksBurner Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Oilers in 5. I have no respect for the Kings. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletch Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Taking the Kings. Edmonton has a shaky goaltending situation, and outscoring your opponents work much better in the regular season. Every season a young team springs the upset, and I'll take the Kings this year. Also, it looks too perfect for a Battle of Alberta in the second round, so I think the Oilers are the team that misses out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Kings in 5. Brown retiring, they know how to grind in the playoffs. Edmonton doesn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 I like the Kings in this matchup. I think Edmonton got hot at the end of the season, but I don't think it'll transfer over to the playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morphinity 2.0 Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 Kings stink. Oilers don't. EZ series. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 2, 2022 Share Posted May 2, 2022 EDM in 6. Fuck the Kings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 The Oilers goalie is Mike Smith. How can you bet on that? Yikes. Conn Smyth Brendan Lemieux started last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 6 hours ago, Dunny said: The Oilers goalie is Mike Smith. How can you bet on that? Yikes. Conn Smyth Brendan Lemieux started last night. Smith is a serious problem. Should have held onto Tablot like cold death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillyb Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 Smith is gonna get a goalie goal before Shesty and it's gonna be this playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morphinity 2.0 Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 2 minutes ago, phillyb said: Smith is gonna get a goalie goal before Shesty and it's gonna be this playoffs. It looks like that is what he was trying there. Unfortunately for him, the game was tied at the time LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 7 minutes ago, phillyb said: Smith is gonna get a goalie goal before Shesty and it's gonna be this playoffs. After his stunt last night which cost the Oilers the game, he'll be scoring an own-goal before he gets one in the other net. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 7 hours ago, Dunny said: The Oilers goalie is Mike Smith. How can you bet on that? Yikes. Conn Smyth Brendan Lemieux started last night. He's no Dwayne Roloson that's for sure. But the Oilers have enough fire power to overcome LAK even with Smith's erratic play. Though even if they manage to squeak by LA, they're gonna get absolutely steamrolled by CGY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 53 minutes ago, Karan said: After his stunt last night which cost the Oilers the game, he'll be scoring an own-goal before he gets one in the other net. that was as close to an own goal as you get without actually putting it in your own net, just a brain dead move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted May 5, 2022 Share Posted May 5, 2022 Need more Lias Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 On 5/5/2022 at 7:08 AM, Dunny said: Need more Lias LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 Kings couldn't keep up with the Oilers in Game 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 absolutely painful to listen to Leah Hextall be the lead on the broadcast. Shame. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieNextel305 Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 2 hours ago, jsrangers said: absolutely painful to listen to Leah Hextall be the lead on the broadcast. Shame. Literally just came here to say the same thing. Just brutal. And this has been an amazing game. Shame we have to have to listen to her call it. Just horrible. I’m sorry. Game 5 to OT. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Overtime here we go! Sound on mute so not worried who says what lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 That was fast. Lol Oilers stink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieNextel305 Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Kempe wins it very fast in OT. Subban picked him to win it prior to the session starting, so that sucks. So does Leah Hextall. My God. Oh well. Poor Oilers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keirik Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Oilers just aren't a well rounded team. They are an assembly of superstars and former has beens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 Tough loss for EDM after their superstars woke up to tie the game up in the 3rd only to completely collapse in OT. Feels like something the Rangers would do lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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