Kings vs Oilers Game 5 | NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction

Kings vs. Oilers Game 5 Odds

For a moment there in Game 4, the Los Angeles Kings were in total command. But with a 2-1 lead in the series and a 3-0 edge through one period, the tide shifted and the Edmonton Oilers ended up with a 5-4 overtime victory.

The Oilers will look to carry that momentum into Tuesday's contest, especially with it being played in Edmonton, but this is still anyone's series.

Continue reading for my preview of Kings vs. Oilers Game 5, which includes a betting pick.

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Los Angeles Kings

Perhaps the biggest silver lining for the Kings is that Kevin Fiala was effective in his return from a lower-body injury. Playing for the first time since April 1, he had two assists in 21:33 of ice time. He was a huge part of the Kings offense during the regular season with 23 goals and 72 points in 69 outings. Now that Fiala's back, the Kings are pretty close to full strength.

Los Angeles' offense clicked in the first period of Sunday's contest, and while it fizzled out after that, the Kings are capable of putting that kind of pressure on Edmonton again. The top forwards in this series are obviously Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but the Kings have a balanced attack that was good enough to tie for 10th in the regular season with 3.34 goals per game, so they're capable of winning high-scoring contests.

What Los Angeles really needs to do though is offer goaltender Joonas Korpisalo more support. He's a solid netminder and has come through for the Kings most of the time, but he's not the next Martin Brodeur. If a group as talented as the Oilers are allowed to fling 39.5 shots per game at him — which has been the case in the first round — then he's going to let some get by.

Korpisalo could have done better on Sunday, but he still has a .918 save percentage in the series. That's more than adequate if Los Angeles cracks down a bit. As it is, the Kings have an expected goals allowed of 17.37 in the playoffs, per moneypuck — they have allowed 14 (one on an empty net).

To give those numbers context, the Kings' -3.37 Goals Against Above Expected is third best, behind only Boston (Linus Ullmark) and New York (Igor Shesterkin).

Korpisalo is doing his part, but the Kings defense needs to step up.

Edmonton Oilers

Of course, that's easier said than done when your opponent is the Oilers. As mentioned above, the Kings are a good offensive team, but Edmonton has the best forward core around.

McDavid and Draisaitl are the centerpieces, of course. Draisaitl in particular has problem for Los Angeles, contributing five goals and nine points through four games. However, what makes the Oilers so dangerous is this isn't just a two-man show.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins provided Edmonton with a third 100-plus-point player this season, and Zach Hyman set career highs with 36 goals and 83 points. Then there's Evander Kane, who was limited to 41 outings during the campaign, but is healthy now and another serious scoring threat.

That supporting cast was Los Angeles' undoing in Game 4. Draisaitl did his part with a pair of goals, but it was Kane who tied the game late in the third period and Hyman who accounted for the overtime winner. When the Oilers' elite forwards are all clicking at the same time, as they are now, they're hard to beat.

If only Edmonton's goaltending was even half as strong. Stuart Skinner, who was chased from Game 4, has posted an underwhelming 3.38 GAA and .881 save percentage in the postseason.

Jack Campbell stepped into Sunday's outing and looked great in Edmonton's comeback victory, but he had a 3.41 GAA and a .888 save percentage during the regular season, so it's hard to count on him to replicate his recent success.

Kings vs. Oilers Pick

With the series back at Rogers Place, oddsmakers are treating the Oilers as heavy favorites, to the point where taking them on the puck line (the spread is 1.5 in favor of the Kings) offers a similar return to taking Minnesota over Dallas on the moneyline.

That's really surprising to me. Yes, Edmonton has a great team, but the Kings have shown they can play with them. Los Angeles not only took Edmonton to seven contests in 2022, but three of four games this year have gone to overtime.

I recommend taking Los Angeles on the puck line. The potential payout is a little less than I'd normally go for, but given that you don't even need the Kings to win, I think it's a very strong choice.

Pick: Kings +1.5 (-135 | Play to -150)

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