Rogers Place will be hosting a divisional tilt as the Edmonton Oilers welcome the visiting Los Angeles Kings. It’s the fourth and last time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. The opening face-off is at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 24, and it will be shown live on CBC Sports.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers Odds
Los Angeles (+105) is playing the role of underdog to Los Angeles (-125) and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -105 for the over and -115 on the under.
Los Angeles is 41-34 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 2.5 units this year. 38 of its games have gone under the total, while 34 have gone over and just three have pushed. As an away team in 2017-18, the Kings are 22-17 SU.
Los Angeles has converted on 20.1 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the best penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 84.6 percent of all penalties.
The Kings, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 3.9 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, and 2.8 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 6.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.2 saves per game with a .922 save percentage, Jonathan Quick (30-28-2) has been the primary option in goal for Los Angeles this year. If head coach John Stevens chooses to rest him, however, Los Angeles might roll with Darcy Kuemper (10-9-3), who has a .932 save percentage and 2.10 goals against average this year.
Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Kings. Kopitar has 86 points via 33 goals and 53 assists, and has recorded two or more points 22 times. Doughty has nine goals and 46 assists to his creditand has registered a point in 39 games.
Over on the other bench, Edmonton is 33-41 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 74 regular season matches, 35 of its games have gone over the total, while another 35 have gone under and just four have pushed. It’s 16-20 SU at home this year.
The Oilers have converted on just 14.4 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s ranked 31st in the NHL. Its penalty kill is also ranked 31st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.9 percent of all penalties.
Oilers skaters have been sent to the penalty box 3.7 times per game in total this season, 3.8 per game over their last five contests total, and 3.2 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cam Talbot has stopped 27.8 shots per game as the primary selection in goal for the Oilers. Talbot has 29 wins, 30 losses, and two overtime losses and has registered a poor .909 save percentage and 2.96 goals against average this season.
Connor McDavid (36 goals, 58 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Oilers.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Kings, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Los Angeles is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Edmonton is 4-1 in shootouts.
The over has hit in three of Edmonton’s last five outings.
Over Edmonton’s last ten outings, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-1 in those games).
This game features two of the more aggressive teams in the league. Los Angeles skaters have given out the fourth-most hits in the league (25.7 per game) while the Oilers have handed the second-most (26.6).
*****
