Another Game 6 is upon us in the National Hockey League! With the intensity of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at full force, the Edmonton Oilers will look to stave off elimination as they travel to La La Land to take on the Los Angeles Kings. Join us for our NHL odds series, where our Oilers-Kings prediction and pick will be revealed.
Edmonton enters play on Thursday after losing two consecutive games at the hands of the Kings in Game 4 and Game 5. After getting shut out in the fourth game between these two Western Conference foes, the Oilers kept it close in the next contest but still came up short 5-4. The Oilers went 49-27-6 in the regular season, but now have their backs up against the wall with their season on the line.
After a pair of lousy seasons the past couple of years within the City of Angels, the Kings are officially back. With nine goals scored in their previous two contests versus the Oilers, the Kings are moving well offensively and are setting up tremendous scoring chances with their puck vision and relentlessness to put the puck in the net.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Oilers-Kings NHL Playoffs odds:
NHL odds: Oilers-Kings Odds
Edmonton Oilers: -1.5 (+168)
Los Angeles Kings: +1.5 (-205)
Over: 6.5 (-104)
Under: 6.5 (-118)
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Why The Oilers Could Cover the Spread
In danger of being upset for the third consecutive playoffs, the Oilers must right their wrongs if they want their season to be preserved. The sluggish Oilers have to find a way to come out of the gates with much more effectiveness, as the slow starts to games have been a killer for Edmonton. In the first period alone, the Oilers are being outscored 5-3 and outshot 85-47, demonstrating why the Oilers have lost back-to-back games to the Kings in this first-round playoff series.
If the Oilers come out and pot a couple of goals and maintain a lead heading into the first intermission, then the odds of them forcing a Game 7 will be in their favor. With the Oilers focused on one game at a time, Edmonton should come out with a sharpened focus and be ready to go for Game 6.
The difference in this game will be the star power on the Oilers roster, as they considerably have more talent than what the Kings appear to have on paper. Center Connor McDavid and forward Leon Draisaityl will need to come up clutch for their squad, as they are the two most dangerous weapons that Edmonton has to offer. During the regular season, the dynamic duo combined for 233 points.
Why The Kings Could Cover the Spread
It didn't seem very long ago that the Kings trailed 2-1 in this series after three games played, but Los Angeles has turned up the pressure and now is only one win away from moving on to the second round to play the winner of the Flames-Stars.
After a decisive Game 5 victory that saw the Kings outlast the Oilers thanks to a 43-28 shots on goal margin and three points from C Adrian Kempe.
In NHL history, the winner of Game 5 in a seven-game series has an all-time record of 219-58, which is roughly 80% of the time that the series is given to the Game 5 victor. Los Angeles fans can breathe a sigh of relief with that statistic, as it is extremely difficult for a team to win two straight after being down 3-2. While the Kings should no question overlook a very talented Oilers squad, LA has two chances in landing the knockout punch that could lead to Edmonton's elimination.
One name to be on the lookout for in Game 6 that can change the tide of the outcome? Look no further than Center Trevor Moore, who has had the hot hand over the last ten games with four goals and three assists combined.
Final Oilers-Kings Prediction & Pick
Let the fun begin! This one should leave hockey fans from all across North America on the edge of their seat. Can the Oilers come out with more urgency in the first period? Only time will tell. Put your trust in the Kings and their ability to cover in a possible closeout game until Edmonton can prove otherwise.
Final Oilers-Kings Prediction & Pick: Kings +1.5 (-205)
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