Oilers Can Take 2-0 Series Lead Following Blowout
NHL Playoffs: Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers Game 2 Odds
After a dominating 7-4 win in Game 1 of their third-straight first-round NHL playoff matchup with the Los Angeles Kings, the Edmonton Oilers can take firm control of the series if they win Wednesday night’s Game 2.
Edmonton has beaten the Kings in the opening round of each of the last two NHL seasons and the Oilers’ performance in Monday’s Game 1 followed the same successful formula that has Edmonton as big favorites on the Kings vs Oilers betting lines.
Edmonton scored twice in the 1st period, building a 2-0 lead that proved to be insurmountable. The Oilers added two more in the 2nd and while the Kings cut the lead to 4-2, Edmonton put Los Angeles away with two more early goals in the 3rd period.
When all was said and done, Zach Hyman had a hat trick and Connor McDavid had five assists. It was a thorough beatdown that easily cashed NHL picks and parlays with the Oilers.
It also gives Kings interim head coach a decision to make regarding whether Cam Talbot will get the Game 2 start. He probably will — and should — because he has been Los Angeles’ go-to guy all season and because he was peppered with high-danger shots.
However, in these short series, coaches have to make tough calls on which netminders to go with. The former Oiler did save 38 of the 44 shots yet it remains to be seen if Hiller will bench him for backup David Rittich.
Kings vs Oilers 
Records: Los Angeles Kings (44-28-11), Edmonton Oilers (50-27-6)
Day, Time: Location: Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Streaming: TBS
LA’s Defense Needs To Tighten Up
Regardless of which of the Kings’ goalies gets the start in Game 2, neither will have much of a chance at getting a win if Los Angeles’ defense is as bad as it was in Game 1. McDavid was able to glide around the ice basically untouched and that set up most of Edmonton’s goals.
The Kings have to be more disciplined at containing their defensive zone, clearing the puck, and being physical with McDavid to knock him out of rhythm. If they don’t, they’ll soon be looking right at a 2-0 series deficit.
The Kings vs Oilers betting lines have the Oilers as -182 favorites on the moneyline (Kings are +150) with Edmonton as +146 on the puckline as a 1.5-goal favorite. These NHL odds are even more in Edmonton’s direction than the Game 1 odds were, showing just how uninspiring the effort from Los Angeles was.
With how the Kings are structured as a defense-first team, they simply can’t win unless they limit the Oilers’ high-danger shot opportunities right at the net.
They also need to stay out of the penalty box. The Kings committed four minor penalties — drawing just two — and gave up power play on three of those penalties.
Edmonton is always going to have a dangerous power play with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl running the show but the penalty kill is supposed to be a strength for Los Angeles. NHL player stats including a 25% effective penalty kill are not going to cut it in this series.
Edmonton Shouldn’t Change A Thing
Of course, Kris Knoblauch would like for his NHL team to concede fewer than four goals in Game 2 but if Wednesday’s game is anything like Monday’s, the Oilers will be more than happy.
Edmonton can easily outscore Los Angeles in high-scoring, up-and-down affairs so that’s exactly what the Oilers are content with playing. So, there really shouldn’t be any “adjustments” to their game following the Game 1 victory.
If anything, Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner — who gave up four goals on 37 shots — could stand to play a little better but he wasn’t bad by any means.
It’s also a little tougher to be perfect when your team spots you a four-goal lead and doesn’t stop scoring. If you have Edmonton in Kings vs Oilers betting, you should be feeling pretty confident.
The Oilers can’t get complacent and have to take the 2-0 advantage before the series shifts south to the Golden State.
As long as they keep up the intensity and pressure and draw penalties — not an issue for a McDavid-led group — they’ll be fine. Edmonton needs to get as many shots on net as possible and the Oilers did an awesome job of doing just that in Game 1.
Roll With Oilers And The Over Again
While the Oilers might not be the most well-rounded in the Stanley Cup playoffs in hockey 2024, they are the most explosive. Nothing that happened in Game 1 changed how this series looks on paper which is why you should back Edmonton even as a big favorite.
Whether you want to go heavy on the moneyline or chase the value on the puckline — it easily hit on Monday — is up to your risk preference yet either bet is a smart one.
Also, taking the over is a good idea. The over on the goal total of six in Game 1 was reached by the end of the 2nd period and it’s set at six goals once again for Game 2. At -110 on the over, it’s a smart bet to take with how prolific the Oilers are at scoring early and often.
For NHL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
