With the Stanley Cup Playoffs underway, both the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings are two teams looking to prove themselves in this pivotal western conference first round series. With the Oilers having a record-breaking season they haven’t seen since the days of legends like Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, they look to start a run against the Young and Hungry Kings team backed with one of the best goaltending tandems in the league that reminds fans of the 2012 Stanley Cup winning squad. Oilers vs Kings is a rematch from last season in the first round.
Oilers vs Kings First Round Preview
This first round matchup is an intense one. Despite their record in the standings being quite close at only a few point difference, these two teams could not look different.
The Oilers have been one of the best teams this past year offensive wise. They have three players over 100 points in Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, with two of those being above 120. They also have Zach Hyman, who has had an equally impressive 84 point season. Although, their struggles lie in net, as Stuart Skinner is the only goalie on the roster to be having a somewhat good season, as Jack Campbell is having the worst season of his entire career.
The Kings however, have been the polar opposite. Although their offense hasn’t been spectacular, with none of their players hitting the point-per-game mark, they have been a better team defensively, and one of the best goaltending-wise. Ever since being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Joonas Koorpisalo has been lights-out for the Kings, and they are hoping he continues that in the first round.
Shades of old
As mentioned earlier, these two teams are showing shades to their past, with the Kings having a very similar look to their 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup winning teams, that focused more on defense and goaltending compared to their high flying rivals in the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Oilers on the other hand, are giving fans reminders to the dynasty era of the 1980’s, with multiple top players having almost 200 point seasons, and a high-flying squad that has been must watch hockey all year.
Potential Rivalry
These two teams have met before, with them meeting in the first round last year, with the Oilers barely squeaking through in seven games. Although, they have met twice in the conference finals, with the Oilers taking both matchups.
There also is the historical aspect of the series, with the Gretzky trade to Los Angeles back in 1988. For the players however, it’s the results from last year that have the most impact.
Last Year’s Kings vs Oilers Matchup
The Kings and Oilers took an interesting series to seven. While the Oilers seemed to dominate every game they won, the Kings won games that were pretty close.
Games 2-3 and 6-7, which the Oilers won, were all multi goal wins, with the highest differential being a shocking 6 in an 8-2 win in game 3.
Meanwhile games 1, 4, 5 were all close games, with their highest differential being 4, in a shutout game 4 to keep them alive.
World Destroying Oilers Offence
One storyline in this Oilers vs Kings series is the offence. The Oilers have been unreal this year offensively. McDavid is having one of the best seasons of his NHL career, and is finally getting the help he needs, with Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, and Hyman all having career years to back it up.
If the Oilers could keep this same pace rolling into this series against the Kings, this could be a massive factor that pushes the series in the Oilers way, like it has been all season.
Young Kings Team Looking To Shine
On the other hand, the Kings have a young team looking to make their mark in the playoffs.
They tried it last year, as they had an unexpectedly great season, and made it into the first round. However, this season they are looking to prove they are more than just a first round exit.
Looking at the roster, the majority of their core are players all in their mid-twenties, outside of the aging veterans that have been there for several years. Guys like Gabriel Vilardi, Sean Durzi, and Adrian Kempe are players all in their twenties looking to take this Kings team far.
Series Prediction: Oilers in 6
This Oilers vs Kings series is poised to go the distance. Despite the regular season swinging in the Kings’ favour, there are still beliefs that the Oilers’ unbelievable offensive production can carry them above the young Kings. With Los Angeles’ backup not doing them any favours, and the offensive production almost doubling from the Oilers squad that torched them last year, it makes sense to say that the Oilers’ walk away victorious again this year.
Main Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
