The Oilers lost the series opener but have rebounded with a pair of impressive outings and now enter Game 4 with a 2-1 series advantage. Let’s analyze this pivotal matchup and keep cashing our NHL picks!
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
Sunday, May 8, 2022 – 10:00 PM EDT at Crypto.com Arena
The Kings shocked the Oilers by handing them a 4-3 opening game loss in this best-of-seven series but Edmonton has countered with a vengeance, defeating Los Angeles by scores of 6-0, and most recently, 8-2 in Friday night’s Game 3 event. The NHL odds at many of the top-rated sportsbooks saw the Oilers as -150 road favorites when the puck dropped.
However, those who pounced on the early line were able to get Edmonton as low as -139 which is exactly what we did when we not only cashed with the Oilers but also covered over 6 ½ in that meeting as well. We double-dipped, crushed the books, and are looking to do it all over again on Sunday evening. Let’s go to work!
Oilers Raising Kane
Edmonton clearly found their mojo in Game 2, outshooting Los Angeles, 36-30, and blanking the Kings, 6-0. But that offensive groove remained when Evander Kane, fresh off of a two-goal, one assist, performance in Game 2 proved he was far from done when he returned in Game 3 to notch the first postseason hat trick of his career in Edmonton’s 8-2 win on Friday night.
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The game was already out of reach midway through the second period as the Oilers had taken a commanding 5-0 lead before the Kings responded with two consecutive goals of their own to cut the lead to 5-2. By that time, Kane had already scored two goals and would get his third deep in the final frame. Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would each have a pair of lamplighters in the Game 3 victory.
“We’re a real good team with the lead. I think scoring early, countering their push there in the first period, and getting two was a good start for us," Kane said. "We knew we had a lot better after that first period going in the second. I thought we did a great job of responding to the push ourselves.”
Trends
- Oilers are 7-0 in their last 7 when opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Oilers are 8-1 in their last 9 after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Oilers are 7-1 in their last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Kings are 1-6 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Kings are 1-7 in their last 8 games as an underdog.
- Over is 8-1-2 in Oilers last 11 Sunday games.
- Over is 7-1-1 in Oilers last 9 when opponent allows 5 goals or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Kings last 5 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
How to Bet on Oilers vs. Kings Game 4
The Oilers are doing exactly what everyone believed they would do entering this series…dominating the Kings. Let’s not forget that LA had lost five of its last six games to Edmonton before the series began which meant their Game 1 victory was an outlier. And the Oilers have proven over the last two contests since then that it was indeed an aberration.
What we should also note is that the Kings actually outshot the Oilers, 46-37, in Game 3 yet still came up empty. LA goalie, Jonathan Quick was pulled midway through the second period after allowing four goals but his replacement, Cam Talbot, was not much of an improvement as he surrendered four goals on 16 shots.
What’s the difference between tonight’s matchup and Friday night’s affair? The venue is the same, the players identical, but maybe desperation will set in for the Kings while the Oilers will become somewhat complacent after outscoring LA, 14-2, over the last two games.
I wouldn’t count on it. Any complacency the Oilers had vanished after their Game 1 loss. Since then, they have been all business, and Sunday night will be no different. They say, there’s nothing sweeter than a repeater so let’s ride the Oilers and over as we keep cashing our tickets and burying our bookmakers.
NHL Pick: Oilers ML (-152) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
NHL Pick: Over 6 ½ (-102) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
