Welcome back to another NHL Predictions. Each day, our writers here at Last Word on Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out. For this edition, we will look at the Edmonton Oilers taking on the Los Angeles Kings. Don’t forget to check out more NHL Predictions, as our writers continue this series throughout the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
NHL Predictions: Western Conference, First Round, Game 1
Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings
Season Head-to-Head: Kings 3 – 1 Oilers
Time: 10:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: ESPN+; ESPN2; SN; TVAS2; FDSNW
The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings are set to face off in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Monday, April 21st, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. This marks the fourth-consecutive postseason meeting between these Pacific Division rivals, with Edmonton having won the previous three series.
Oilers Look to Steal Home-Ice Advantage
The Oilers enter the playoffs as the third seed in the Pacific Division, finishing the regular season with a 48–29–5 record. Their offence is led by Leon Draisaitl, who tallied 106 points (52 goals, 54 assists), and Connor McDavid, who contributed 100 points (26 goals, 74 assists) despite missing time due to injury. Zach Hyman also had a standout season, netting 27 goals.
On special teams, Edmonton’s power play converted at a rate of 23.7%, ranking 12th in the league, while their penalty kill operated at 78.2%, placing them 16th. Goaltender Stuart Skinner led the team with 26 wins, posting a 2.81 goals-against average (GAA) and a .896 save percentage. Calvin Pickard provided solid backup support with a 2.71 GAA and a .900 SV%.
In their most recent matchup against the Kings, the Oilers were shutout 5–0, with key players like McDavid and Draisaitl absent from the lineup. Their return is expected to bolster Edmonton’s offensive capabilities significantly.
Kings Look to Maintain Critical Home-Ice Advantage
The Kings secured the second seed in the Pacific Division with a 48–25–9 record, earning them home-ice advantage for this series. They were particularly dominant at Crypto.com Arena, boasting a league-best 31–6–4 home record.
Defensively, Los Angeles was among the league’s elite, allowing just 206 goals over the season. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper led the team with 31 wins, 5 shutouts, an impressive 2.02 GAA, and a .922 save percentage.
Offensively, Adrian Kempe led the team with 71 points, while Kevin Fiala topped the goal-scoring chart with 35 goals. Captain Anze Kopitar added 70 points, showcasing the team’s balanced attack.
In their final regular-season game against Edmonton, the Kings dominated with a 5–0 victory, highlighting their defensive prowess and depth scoring. A key piece of that depth is Quinton Byfield. Many eyes will be on the young forward to see if he can have his coming-out party in this series.
NHL Predictions: Game 1
The story here is a high-powered offence against a stout defence. There’s also some bad blood after Phillip Danault accused the Oilers of trying to injure the Kings players in their last matchup (based on Darnell Nurse cross-checking Quinton Byfield in the back of the head). With that, Game 1 is poised to be a tightly contested battle. McDavid and Draisaitl give the Oilers a significant boost, but the Kings’ home-ice advantage and defensive structure could tip the scales in their favour.
Prediction: Kings win 3–2.
Prop Bets of the Night
We round out NHL Predictions with some prop bets of the night. Plus odds for Draisaitl anytime goal (+125) are great value. Also consider Adrian Kempe anytime goal (+200). Lastly, take a look at Quinton Byfield over 0.5 points (+105).
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Main Photo Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
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