The LA Kings and the Edmonton Oilers meet in Game 4 of a Western Conference best-of-7, first-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Sunday. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (TBS / truTV / Max). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Kings vs. Oilers odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Series: Kings lead 2-1
The Kings ran into a buzzsaw in Edmonton for Game 3, as they were unable to build a huge lead like in both Games 1 and 2 on home ice.
Oilers C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and D Ryan Bouchard got the fans out of their seats early in Game 3, scoring a pair of first-period goals to take a 2-0 lead. However, the Kings did take the lead briefly with a strong second period, scoring 3 straight goals, including power-play markers from LW Kevin Fiala and D Drew Doughty.
Down 4-3, the Oilers dominated the third period, though. LW Evander Kane appeared to kick a puck in a melee in front of the crease, while poking the puck across the line with his stick. On replay, it was determined a good goal, but Kings coach Jim Hiller challenged the play. It was upheld, and the Kings were assessed a 2-minute minor penalty for delay of game. Just 10 seconds late, Bouchard made the Kings and the coach pay, netting a power-play goal to make it 5-4. C Connor McDavid and RW Connor Brown added empty-net goals for the 7-4 victory.
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Kings at Oilers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:55 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Kings +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Oilers -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Kings +1.5 (-225) | Oilers -1.5 (+185)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Kings at Oilers projected goalies
Darcy Kuemper (31-11-7, 2.02 GAA, .922 SV%, 5 SO — regular season) vs. Calvin Pickard (22-10-1, 2.71 GAA, .900 SV%, 0 SO — regular season)
Kuemper was on fire to finish the regular season, but he has been very ordinary in this series. He has the 2 wins, but that’s thanks to 6.0 goals per game (GPG) of offensive support in the first 2 home contests. Kuemper has a 4.04 GAA and .859 SV% in 3 games of the series, and those are numbers which would get you benched if not for the series lead.
Pickard was inserted into the crease as the Game 3 starter, and he was a bit shaky to start. However, he settled down with 24 saves on 28 chances, and he received a boatload of offensive support to get the win in Game 3. He was not much better than the benched Stuart Skinner, but he wasn’t worse, either. Look for Pickard to get the nod again in Game 4.
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Kings at Oilers picks and predictions
Prediction
Oilers 5, Kings 3
Moneyline
The OILERS (-135) are a solid play on home ice in Game 4. They looked dead in Game 2, and they were down heading into the third period of Game 3, staring an 0-3 series deficit in the face. Edmonton rallied, spurred on by the home fans, and they should feed off the energy of the home crowd again in Game 4 to square this series, sending things back to Southern California all knotted up.
Puck line/Against the spread
If you’re really on the adventurous side, forget the moneyline and back OILERS -1.5 (+185) for the opportunity to nearly double up.
You’ll have to hold your breath, as no lead is safe in this series, and the goals have been fast and furious. So, whether you bet the moneyline or puck line, it’s going to be a stressful evening, with the lead likely changing hands a couple of times before the dust settles.
Over/Under
The OVER 6.5 (+100) at even-money is a steal.
We’ve seen the Over cash in each of the first 3 games of this series, and it really hasn’t even been close. In fact, the winning team is averaging 6.33 goals per game (GPG), while the losing side has managed 3.67 GPG. In the first 3 contests, we had an average of 10.0 combined GPG, and 11 total goals in Game 3. Until defense starts to show up, and the goaltenders start saying no way more frequently, keep hitting the Over.
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