Kings vs Oilers Game 1 Odds, Props & Predictions (Monday, Apr. 22)

• The Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers begin their playoff series on Monday night
• The NHL PLayoff odds heavily favor the Oilers to take a 1-0 series lead
• Read below for Kings vs Oilers Game 1 prediction, odds and props

The Edmonton Oilers host the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place on Monday night to kick off their first round playoff series. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET with the game televised on ESPN2. The Oilers opened as -160 moneyline favorites with the over/under set at 6 goals.

This marks the third consecutive year these Pacific Division rivals have met in the opening round. The Oilers prevailed in seven games in 2022 and six games last year, but the Kings gave them all they could handle. Nine of the 13 games over the past two series were decided by two goals or less, with four requiring overtime.

Who takes Game 1 this year? Let’s get into our Game 1 Kings vs odds, as we provide our prediction.

Game 1 Kings vs Oilers Odds

In the Game 1 Kings vs Oilers odds, Edmonton is a -170 home favorite, giving them 63% implied win probability.

Edmonton also opened as a heavy -190 favorite in the Oilers vs Kings series odds.

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Game 1 odds as of Apr. 22 at Bet365. Check out the Bet365 offer for new users to wager on Kings vs Oilers tonight. 

Kings Betting Analysis

The Kings play a stingy 1-3-1 neutral zone trap that clogs the middle of the ice and frustrates opponents. They allowed the fourth fewest high-danger chances and scoring chances in the NHL this season. Over their final five regular season games, no opponent generated more than eight high-danger chances against them.

Lock it in 🔓 pic.twitter.com/g5r9GVcDCF

— x – LA Kings (@LAKings) April 22, 2024

However, the Kings’ goaltending has slipped recently. Despite facing non-playoff teams like Chicago, Anaheim and Calgary down the stretch, LA’s netminders posted a subpar .900 save percentage over the last five games. Projected Game 1 starter Cam Talbot has been especially shaky with an .879 save percentage in his last four outings. That’s a major concern against Edmonton’s lethal attack.

Offensively, the Kings have also struggled to light the lamp. They haven’t scored more than two goals at 5-on-5 in any of their past five games while shooting a paltry 6.7%. The Kings will need more from top forwards like Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe and Phillip Danault to keep pace with the Oilers.

Oilers Betting Analysis

Edmonton enters the playoffs having lost four of five, but their underlying metrics are encouraging. The Oilers have controlled over 60% of the expected goals in five of their last six games against quality opponents like Colorado, Vegas and Vancouver. Their cumulative expected goals percentage is 61.3% during that span, indicating they’ve thoroughly outplayed the opposition.

With superstar Connor McDavid back to full health, the Oilers are poised for positive regression in the goal-scoring department. Edmonton’s PDO (combined shooting + save percentage) has been under 1.000 in four of the last six games. Some better puck luck could be on the horizon, especially with the home crowd behind them.

"Our room is in a good spot."

Connor McDavid catches up with the media as the #Oilers prepare to face the Kings in Game 1.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/VQHDQ2UfA3

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 22, 2024

Since head coach Kris Knoblauch took over in November, the Oilers are a stellar 27-5-3 at Rogers Place. Led by the dynamic duo of McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they have the firepower to overwhelm any defense. McDavid topped the NHL with 153 points (64 goals, 89 assists) this season, while Draisaitl was second with 128 points (52 goals, 76 assists).

The Oilers also finished with the league’s fourth-ranked power play, at 26.3%. That could be a major factor against a Kings penalty kill that dipped to 79.3% after the trade deadline. If the Oilers draw penalties and cash in with the man advantage, the Kings will be hard-pressed to keep up.

In terms of notable injuries, the Oilers hope to have winger Evander Kane back for Game 1. He’s been dealing with a sports hernia all season but practiced fully on Saturday. Coach Knoblauch said he anticipates Kane starting on the fourth line before potentially working his way up. His size and physicality would provide a big boost.

Starting Goalies

The goaltending matchup pits 24-year-old Stuart Skinner for Edmonton against 35-year-old Cam Talbot for LA. Skinner went 29-14-5 with a 2.75 GAA and .914 save percentage in his first season as a starter.

Talbot was 21-14-4 with a 2.70 GAA and .911 save percentage. Both will be aiming to rebound from shaky playoff debuts last year.

Betting Trends

Some other key stats that have been factored into the betting line for this game:

– The Oilers were 39-37 against the spread this season, while the Kings were 37-40
– The over hit in 43 of Edmonton’s 82 games compared to just 33 for Los Angeles
– Edmonton won the season series 3-1
– The Oilers are 1-8 in Game 1s in the McDavid era, including losses to the Kings in 2022 and 2023

Kings vs Oilers Game 1 Prediction

While the Kings’ structured defensive system and strong center depth make them a tough out, the Oilers simply have too much talent up front. McDavid and Draisaitl are matchup nightmares and should feast on a Kings’ defense that has bent but not broken lately.

Look for Edmonton to come out flying in front of their home crowd and set the tone early. The Oilers are overdue for a strong Game 1 performance and have the firepower to overwhelm LA if they get an early lead. Cam Talbot’s recent struggles in net are also very worrisome for the Kings.

The Oilers’ puck possession dominance down the stretch portends well for their chances of taking an early series lead. With McDavid and Draisaitl leading the charge and a lively home crowd behind them, Edmonton is primed to exorcise their Game 1 demons against the Kings.

Lay the -170 moneyline price on the Oilers to draw first blood in what should be another hard-fought series.

Game 1 Picks:

• Oilers ML (-170)
• McDavid Anytime Goal (+160)