NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Oilers vs Kings Game 3 (Friday, April 26)
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Oilers vs. Kings Odds
| Oilers Odds | -130 |
| Kings Odds | +110 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 +100 / -120 |
Here's everything you need to know about the Oilers vs Kings Game 3 on Friday, April 26 – our expert NHL prediction and pick.
Oilers vs. Kings odds have Edmonton as a -130 favorite on the moneyline, while the total is set at 6.5 goals. Each of the first two games of this series has flown over the total, with nine or more total goals scored in each outing.
Find out why I think we will see a similar result in Game 3 as I make an Oilers vs. Kings pick and prediction for Friday.
Part of the reason for these high-scoring games has been the play of goaltender Stuart Skinner, who has allowed four or more goals in each of the first two games. Dating back to the regular season, Skinner is 1-2 with a fade-worthy .829 SV% and 5.49 GAA.
To be fair to Skinner, Edmonton's blue line is also not doing a great job at suppressing high-danger scoring chances. Among the 16 playoff teams, the Oilers rank 12th in Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5.
On the other hand, we know what to expect from this powerhouse offense led by Connor McDavid. Edmonton finished the regular season ranked in the top four of the league in goals scored per game, Shots on Goal per game and Power Play Percentage.
The Oilers have gone on to score four or more goals in each of their first two playoff games, and they haven't shown any signs of slowing down offensively.
That offensive success is likely to continue against goaltender Cam Talbot, who has now allowed three or more goals in eight of his past 10 starts dating back to the regular season. Talbot possesses a .883 SV% and 3.36 GAA over that stretch.
Like Skinner and Edmonton, Talbot is dealing with a struggling blue line in front of him that ranks in the bottom five among the 16 playoff teams in xGA/60. Not that this defense isn't playing without effort — that ranking is just more of a proclamation of the Oilers' powerhouse offense.
With that said, this Los Angeles offense has gone blow-for-blow with them. The Kings have scored four or more goals in each of the first two games and rank fifth among the 16 playoff teams in Expected Goals For per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at 5-on-5.
Oilers vs. Kings
Betting Pick & Prediction
The total in Game 1 closed at 5.5 before 11 total goals were scored. The Game 2 total closed at 6, and there were nine total goals scored in that game as well.
This total is now set at 6.5, and I think they will surpass it once again in Game 3. Both offenses are playing extremely well while both goaltenders are struggling to deal with the creation of these high-danger scoring chances.
There is just so much firepower in this matchup, and until Talbot and Skinner show signs of being able to deal with it, then the over will continue to be the bet to make in this series.
This matchup reminds me a lot of the 2022 NHL Playoff series between Edmonton and Calgary, a series in which eight or more goals were scored in four of the five games.
Pick: Over 6.5 (+102 at FanDuel | Play to -105)
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