The Los Angeles Kings head to Rogers Place to take on the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. The puck drops at 10:00 PM ET on Friday night. The Kings lead the series 2-0 after two home wins, including a dominant 6-2 victory in Game 2.
The Oilers find themselves in a hole early, giving up 12 total goals in the first two games. Edmonton has struggled on both ends of the ice, with poor penalty killing and limited scoring outside their top stars. Now back home, the Oilers are in a must-win situation to keep their season alive.
Kings Preview – Special Teams Leading the Charge
Los Angeles finished the regular season 48-25-6-3 and took second in the Pacific Division. They posted a 17-19-5 record on the road but have carried momentum into the postseason. The Kings scored six goals in each of the first two games and have been deadly on the power play, going 5-for-10 so far in the series.
Adrian Kempe leads the way with three goals and four assists. Anze Kopitar has added a goal and four helpers. Kevin Fiala has chipped in with a goal and two assists. The depth scoring has been just as important, with Andrei Kuzmenko contributing two goals and three assists and Quinton Byfield and Phil Danault each scoring twice.
Goaltender Darcy Kuemper has won both starts, including a .923 save percentage in Game 2. The Kings also shut out the Oilers back on April 14. Their defense has kept Connor McDavid in check after he had four points in Game 1. Los Angeles will try to carry their strong special teams and defense into Game 3 on the road.
Oilers Preview – Trouble on Both Ends
Edmonton finished third in the Pacific at 48-29-4-1 and went 25-13-3 at home during the regular season. They now face a tough task, down 0-2 and struggling to stop the Kings’ offense. The Oilers have given up 12 goals so far, and goaltender Stuart Skinner is under pressure after allowing six goals in back-to-back games.
Leon Draisaitl has scored in both games, but McDavid was held without a point in Game 2. Edmonton has not scored on the power play yet and has allowed five power-play goals. Coach Kris Knoblauch says the team doesn’t need a new system, just better execution, especially on the penalty kill.
The Oilers need their defensemen to clean up play in front of their goalie. Darnell Nurse said they’ve let Skinner down with missed assignments. The team also needs more from its depth and special teams to shift momentum in the series. Friday’s game could decide if they stay in the series or fall behind 3-0.
Betting Prediction
The Oilers are slight home favorites at -132 with the total set at 5.5 goals. Edmonton is 25-13-3 at home but has lost two straight to open this series. The Kings are 6-4 in the last ten head-to-head matchups and have scored 12 goals in two games.
Los Angeles is rolling on the power play and getting strong goaltending. Edmonton’s defense and penalty kill have not done enough to stop the bleeding. Until the Oilers prove they can stop the Kings’ attack, it’s hard to back them. Predicted final score: Kings 4, Oilers 2.
Pick: Kings +115
