There are only four games on the NHL schedule today. There is no bigger game than the Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings. The Kings have continued their trajectory of improvement from last season. At the same time, the Oilers find themselves fighting their defensive and goaltending struggles for a wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference.
We’ll review the stats, trends, and odds and make our Oilers vs Kings Betting predictions while finding the best bets for Monday’s online sports betting ticket.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings Information
NHL Edmonton Oilers (21-17-3) vs. Los Angeles Kings (23-14-6)
Location of the game: crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Time: Monday, January 9th, 2023, 10:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: NHLPP | ESPN+ | Regional Broadcast Partners
Last Game Score
Monday night’s game is the second of four head-to-head NHL matchups between the Oilers and Kings this season.
The Los Angeles Kings won the first game 3-1 on November 16th, 2022, in Edmonton. Trevor Moore and Viktor Arvidsson did all the scoring for Los Angeles, with Moore scoring a hat-trick and Arvidsson three assists. Calvin Peterson made 22 saves to get the win.
Zach Hyman scored the Oilers’ only goal, while Stuart Skinner made 29 saves in the loss for Edmonton.
Edmonton lost its last game 3-2 in overtime to the Colorado Avalanche on January 9th. Los Angeles won its last game 5-1 over the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights on January 7th.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings Analysis
The Edmonton Oilers enter Monday’s game having lost three of the last four games and ranked fifth in the Pacific Division with a 21-17-3 record. In their last five games, the Oilers have hit the over twice, with another game ending on six total goals, while three games ended in at least a 1.5-goal spread.
The over is 4-1-1 in the Oilers’ last six games against Pacific Division rivals and 4-1 in Edmonton’s last five road games.
With Connor McDavid leading the league in NHL player stats with an incredible 76 points (33 goals, 43 points) in 41 games played. The Oilers have the offense to outscore their defense or goaltending issues. Edmonton averages 3.5 goals per game and is ranked fifth overall in team NHL stats. The Oilers have the number one ranked powerplay in the NHL, converting at 32.2%.
Oilers Defense
Defensively, the Oilers are awful for a potential contender, with the league’s leading scorer and the best player in the game, and are ranked in the bottom third of the league. Edmonton is ranked 20th overall, giving up an average of 3.3 goals per game, while the penalty killers are ranked 23rd, operating at 74.1% efficiency.
Stuart Skinner (12-10-2, 2.88 GAA, .915 SV%) and Jack Campbell (9-7-1, 3.69 GAA, .979 SV%) have swapped starts in the last five games. If this rotation continues, Campbell should get the start for Edmonton, although Skinner is listed as the probable starter.
Kings Predictions
Not many Los Angeles Kings predictions coming into the season had the Kings ranked higher than the Oilers in the NHL standings.
Yet, Los Angeles is currently and has spent the majority of the season second in the Pacific Division. The Kings enter Monday night’s game with a 23-14-6.
The Kings have won three of their last five games, alternating wins and losses. In their last five games, the Kings have hit the over twice and had two games end at six total goals, while three games ended in at least a 1.5-goal spread.
Los Angeles is 4-0 in the last four games against Western Conference competition and 5-0 against Pacific division rivals.
The Kings are ranked 16th overall, averaging 3.2 goals per game. Los Angeles’ powerplay is ranked 15th and converting at 23.1%. Kevin Fiala leads the Kings with 42 points (13 goals, 29 assists).
Kings Defense
Defensively, Los Angeles struggles more than Edmonton, statistically speaking. The Kings are ranked 22nd and giving up an average of 3.4 goals per game, while the penalty killers are amongst the league’s worst, ranked 29th and operating at 72.3%.
Los Angeles center Trevor Moore, who starred in the last game between the Kings and Oilers, is the only recent addition to the NHL injury report for either team.
Pheonix Copley (10-2-0, 2.52 GAA, .904 SV%) has started the last three games and five of the last six games overall. Jonathan Quick (8-9-4, 3.40 GAA, .884 SV%) is the probable starter for the Kings on Monday night.
Odds Breakdown
The NHL odds are very close on most sportsbooks, although Oilers vs Kings betting has the public favoring Edmonton.
For those interested in making total goals wagers in their NHL picks today, the total goals line is set at 6.5. The over listed between -110 and -125 and the under listed between -105 and -109. Oilers has a 24-13-4 over/under record, while Los Angeles is 20-20-3 over/under.
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton is the slight underdog on the Moneyline, with odds ranging from -105 and -110. The Oilers have a 21-20 straight-up Moneyline record.
As a slight underdog, the Edmonton Oilers odds on the puck line spread are quite high, listed at +1.5 goals with odds between +215 and +220. Edmonton has a 20-21 record against the spread (ATS).
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are the slight Moneyline favorite on the Oilers vs Kings betting lines, with odds ranging between -110 and -115. Los Angeles has a 23-20 straight-up Moneyline record.
As the favorite, Los Angeles is listed at -1.5 on the puck line spread, with odds between +215 and +220. The Kings have a 21-22 ATS record.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings Betting Pick and Prediction
If you like prop bets, an Oilers powerplay goal or McDavid to score at least one point has to be among your Oilers vs Kings betting picks. Especially considering the league’s best powerplay with the best player in the game is facing one of the worst penalty-killing units.
In our NHL picks, our first Oilers vs Kings betting prediction is that this game will hit the over, with seven or eight total goals scored, despite the under being 4-1 in the last five matchups. The Oilers can score, while probable starting goalie Campbell tends to give up many goals, even in winning efforts.
Our Moneyline and spread wagers are a little more one-sided than the very even odds for this game. Considering the road team is 9-4 in the last 13 games, and the Oilers are 5-1 in the last six games in Los Angeles, we’re taking the Oilers to win on the Moneyline.
That leaves our puck line spread Oilers vs Kings betting picks straight forward: take the Oilers to cover the +1.5 goal spread and win the game straight-up.
NHL Best Bets: Edmonton Oilers ML (-105 to -110), Oilers +1.5 (+215 to +220), Over
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