NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Kings vs. Oilers

Kings vs. Oilers Odds

Separated by just one point in the Pacific Division standings, the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers will square off in a potential playoff preview on Thursday night at Rogers Place.

The Kings are second in the division with 96 points and are continuing a four-game road trip after dropping a 2-1 decision to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

The Oilers boast 95 points, with one more game played. They're back home after a successful road trip to Arizona and Vegas, but will be playing their third game in four nights.

Here's a closer look at the latest on both teams, and your best bet for Thursday's game.

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Los Angeles Kings

Tuesday's loss in Calgary marked the end of a phenomenal hot streak as it was the Kings first regulation defeat since Feb. 26 — a 10-0-2 run. During that 12-game run, the Kings averaged 4.33 goals per game — second only to the Oilers (4.36) — and the power play was clicking 26.2% of the time.

Defensively, the Kings have also been playing well. Over their past 10 games, their expected goal share of 58.67% at 5-on-5 has been second-best in the league, trailing only Calgary. And despite taking the loss in Calgary, goaltender Joonas Korpisalo has been excellent since joining the Kings. He and Pheonix Copley have been alternating starts and, collectively, averaged 2.33 goals against per game during the hot streak.

If the pattern holds, Copley should start in Edmonton. He has an .899 save percentage, but is 23-4-3 this season.

As the Kings push for first place in the Pacific — and possibly in the Western Conference — they have one Achilles heel. Their penalty kill is just 75.3% for the season, and that didn't change during their hot streak.

Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton has one more point than L.A. since Feb. 27, but has also played two more games.

The Oilers are also 7-0-1 since their last regulation loss (Mar. 11 in Toronto). They're also 11-3-1 in their past 15 games, have averaged a league-high 4.53 goals per game over that stretch and are executing a lethal 35.4% of the time on the power play. In their past four games, they're even better — 8-for-13 (62%).

True to their roots, the Oilers are comfortable scoring their way out of any issues with goaltending — and there are issues. Stuart Skinner has been carrying the heavier workload and his numbers since Feb. 27 are decidedly Copley-like: an .896 save percentage, but a 9-2-1 record. Jack Campbell has given up 14 goals in his past three starts (4.58 GAA) and is 2-1-0 in that stretch.

Kings vs. Oilers Pick

The Kings have won the previous meetings between these teams this season: 3-1 in Edmonton on Nov. 16 and 6-3 back in Los Angeles on Jan. 9.

Both teams are in equally tough spots and will be playing their fourth game in six nights. However, the Oilers may have slightly fresher legs, having cruised to wins in their past two games. The Kings tried to play catch-up against the Flames after falling into a first-period hole on Tuesday, and narrowly escaped with a 7-6 win over St. Louis in a wild affair last Sunday.

The Oilers' power play is also operating at peak form right now, while the Kings' penalty kill has struggled all season. Edmonton is one of the best teams in the league at drawing penalties and the Kings are one of the league's more penalized teams.

A game this important in the standings will be taken seriously by both teams, so avoid the puck line as a blowout is unlikely.

Look for the Oilers to overtake the Kings in the Pacific Division with a regulation win.

Pick: Oilers in Regulation (-105) Play to -120