Welcome back to NHL Predictions here at Last Word on Sports! Each day of the NHL season, we preview and analyze games to give our predictions. Today, we’ll be taking a closer look at a game between the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers. Be sure to check back each day to follow along with our predictions throughout the season.
NHL Predictions
Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings
Time: 4 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time)
TV: ESPN+, FanDuel Sports Network, Sportsnet
A familiar rivals will take the ice in Los Angeles, California as the Kings and Oilers faceoff. This matinee matchup at Crypto.com Arena will be the first of three time the teams meet this season. A fierce rivalry, familiar opponents, and a potential playoff series will all be on display.
Los Angeles Kings Preview
The Kings will be happy to return home after a long road trip along the East Coast. They enter the game as the third placed team in the Pacific Division. The road trip saw them go 3-2-2 over the course of two weeks. After playing several Eastern Conference teams, the Kings will face an opponent much closer to home. The Oilers are the fiercest rival the Kings have had over the past several years. Fresh in the mind of the Kings will be how Edmonton dispatched them in the first round of the playoffs for the past three seasons. A lot has changed for the Kings since their last postseason meeting, and they’ll be eager to see how their new lineup stacks up.
The most obvious upgrade for the Kings will be at the goalie position. Darcy Kuemper provides the group with a true number one goalie, something the Kings have not had since Jonathan Quick started for them in the 2022 playoffs. The past two playoff series, there has been some uncertainty in net for the Kings, featuring two completely different goalie tandems. The play of Darcy Kuemper provides stability that the Kings have not had.
Young players are also making an impact that should help against this Edmonton Oilers team. Brandt Clarke did not appear in that playoff series, but should be able to add some offense on the back end for the Kings. Alex Laferierre has been improving upon his rookie season. Alex Turcotte has been having a breakout season, and the intensity he brings should help Los Angeles against the Oilers.
Edmonton Oilers Preview
The Oilers are ranked second in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Kings. They’ll be playing in their first game after the Christmas break. Before the break, the Oilers were cruising, winning eight of their last nine games. The usual suspects have been producing for Edmonton, with Leon Draisaitl leading in goals and points, and Connor McDavid leading in assists.
The Oilers will look to use their explosive offense to overpower the Kings. In their playoff and regular season meetings, Los Angeles has struggled to contain this firepower. Draisitl has 33 points in 35 games against the Kings, and he is the top goal scorer in the NHL right now. As in previous games, the Kings have the better defense, but the Oilers have been able to overcome this. Tomorrow will give an idea if this is still the case.
The Kings and Oilers also seem to be on a collision course to meet in the playoffs again. If the season were to end today, this would be the first round matchup. This would favor Edmonton, who has been gotten the better of the Kings. Last season alone, Edmonton recorded seven wins compared to only two losses across both regular season and postseason.
The Return of Foegele and Arvidsson
During free agency, the Kings and Oilers essentially swapped forwards. Free agent Viktor Arvidsson signed with Edmonton and Warren Foegele signed with Los Angeles. This game marks the first time the two face their former teams. Both found success with their teams. Foegele had 41 points with the Oilers last year, including 20 goals. This made him fifth on the team in goals. Arvidsson, a crafty forward, struggled with injuries last season. He was a valuable member of the Kings offense over his three years with the team, two 20 goal season and two 40+ point years.
Foegele has gotten off to a quicker start with his new team. He has 18 points for the Kings in 34 games. Arvidsson, meanwhile, only has played in 19 games, and has seven points. The two players making their return to their former clubs will be exciting to monitor throughout the game.
NHL Predictions Time
This is an intriguing game with a lot on the line. Look for a playoff style game from two teams that know each other very well. In the end, it is difficult to give a prediction that goes against the Oilers. Edmonton has had too much success against Los Angeles, and their offense is too dangerous. The Kings could take a victory if their defense can limit McDavid and Draisitl, but the Oilers have the upper hand.
Prediction: Edmonton Oilers 4-2 over Los Angeles Kings
Prop Bets
The most fun part of NHL Predictions! For goal scorers, there are a number of players to look at. Leon Draisitl and Connor McDavid are always a threat to score, and have had great success against the Kings. FanDuel Sportsbook has McDavid as +145 to score and Draisitl as +150. For Los Angeles, Kempe has been hot against the Oilers, scoring 6 goals in his last 10 games against them. FanDuel has Kempe as +200 to score.
Please play responsibly, check for your local rules and age restrictions, some jurisdictions require ages 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Main Photo: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
The post NHL Predictions: Dec. 28 Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.