Oilers vs. Kings Game 3 Odds
| Oilers Odds | -155 |
| Kings Odds | +130 |
| Over/Under | 6.5 (-104/-118) |
| Time | 10 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT |
| Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The tides have turned quickly in the opening-round matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings. Edmonton has jumped out to an early lead in both games; however, the Kings stormed back in each contest.
L.A. reserved its best effort for the third period in Game 1, tying the game up with less than 10 minutes to play in the final stanza before winning in overtime. Then, they erased a two-goal deficit in Game 2, albeit with the Oilers triumphing on the strength of a third-period goal and subsequent empty netter.
The series shifts venues, heading to the Crypto.com Arena for Games 3 and 4. Line matching could be the advantage they need to stymie a dangerous Oilers squad. Here's my Oilers vs Kings betting preview, including two predictions for Game 3.
Edmonton Oilers
As expected, Edmonton's offense was firing on all cylinders through the first two games of the Pacific Division series. The Oilers have attempted at least 15 high-danger chances in both games, totaling 65 scoring opportunities as well. Still, that hasn't yielded the output we expect from such a vivacious offense. Edmonton has fallen below its expected goal total in both matchups, with a modest 6.1% shooting percentage at five-on-five and 9.1% across all strengths.
That's a concerning metric with the series shifting to SoCal. Predictably, the Oilers' production has decreased as the visitors this year. As the hosts, Edmonton averaged 12.1 high-danger chances as the hosts this year, tumbling to 9.9 on the road. With concerns already mounting around their scoring ability, we could see an even more diminished effort on Friday.
Connor McDavid has also been noticeably absent from the boxscore. The league's leading scorer has recorded just one assist in the series, which came on the man advantage, with a -2 rating. Similarly, he was on the ice for the game-tying goal in Game 1, illustrating his liability in the defending zone. McDavid lost the draw after an icing, making little effort thereafter to regain possession. L.A. has corraled him on the road and has an even bigger edge in limiting McDavid on home ice.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings would not be tied in this first-round matchup without Joonas Korpisalo. The trade deadline acquisition has been a revelation between the pipes, stopping 70 of 76 shots for a 92.1% save percentage. However, Korpisalo has reserved his best performances for the home crowd and could put forth a more robust effort in Game 3, with the Kings better equipped to defend their own end with last change.
Since joining the Kings in March, Korpisalo has thrived on home ice. The Finnish netminder is 4-0-1 with a 94.0% save percentage and 1.38 goals against average. Without question, it's an impressive stat line, but the Kings also deserve credit for their ability to hamper their opponents at home.
Throughout the regular season, L.A. allowed more than two goals at five-on-five in just 13 contests. More impressively, opponents eclipsed that mark in just two of their final 13 games. As expected, limited production contributed to the scoring woes.
The Kings held opponents to nine or fewer quality chances in all but one of those games, with an average of 7.2 high-danger opportunities per game. Likewise, scoring opportunities were scarce, with L.A. allowing an average of 20.5 per contest. Expect the Kings to lean into that defensive structure to keep the Oilers at bay.
Oilers vs. Kings Pick
Chances will be at a premium in this one, and we're expecting scoring to fall with it. The Kings have done well to limit the Oilers early this series, and that edge improves at Crypto.com Arena. Considering L.A.'s play on home ice, there may also be an advantage in backing the underdog home side.
We're firing on the under and Kings on Friday night.
Pick: Under 6.5 (-115) |
Pick: Kings ML +125 |
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