VW'S 1-AND-ONLY NHL DIVISION GAME OF THE YEAR
- Handicapper
- Vegas Writer
- League
- NHL
- Competition
- Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings
- Release Date
- 04/21/2025 11:43 AM
- Event Date
- 04/21/2025 10:22 PM
- Bet Type
- Moneyline
- Pick
-
Los Angeles Kings -125
(BetMGM)
- Outcome
- Win
- Analysis
- After watching the first couple of days of the NHL Playoffs, I'm convinced the Los Angeles Kings are the most dangerous team in the Western Conference, with the Vegas Golden Knights running a close second. And tonight, at Crypto, the Kings are going to inflict as much pain as possible on the defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers.
I don't think Connor McDavid is 100%, I don't think this team is playing anywhere close to as cohesive as it was last postseason, and I don't think Stuart Skinner is going to hold up in this series.
HERE IS A BONUS: Play the Kings in this series, because they're moving on.
The Kings come into the postseason as the NHL's best team on home ice, finishing the regular season with a 31-6-4 record in Los Angeles. Prior to locking up the second seed in the Pacific Division last week, the Kings capped off a four-game homestand with a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on April 12. That result secured the team’s 31st win at Crypto.com Arena this season and marked the first time in franchise history the team has reached the 30-home win mark.
That said, I know the Kings closed the season with a 5-1 home loss to the Calgary Flames, but, they didn't need the game. What's more important is the fact that the Kings finished the campaign ranked No. 1 since March 8 with 34 points, going 17-5-0 while averaging a league-second-highest 3.68 goals per game and allowing a league-low 2.00 goals against.
I'm looking for a big game from forward Adrian Kempe, who has 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) in his last nine meetings with the Oilers, dating to the start of Round One last year.
The home team has won four of the last five meetings in this Pacific Division clash, and since the 2010-11 season, the Kings are 22-6-0 at home against the Oilers.
All Los Angeles tonight, ladies and gentlemen.
