The NHL playoffs are serving up a familiar dish: Oilers vs. Kings, Take 4.
For the fourth straight year, Edmonton and Los Angeles are set to battle it out in the postseason. It’s like Hollywood’s favorite hockey sequel, except this time there’s a twist – the Kings actually finished ahead of Edmonton in the Pacific Division standings.
That’s a first in recent memory, and it’s got people talking. Could this finally be L.A.’s year to knock off their playoff nemesis?
The Kings have definitely stepped up their game. They’re not just playing defensive hockey anymore – they’ve got seven forwards who scored at least 15 goals this season.
But here’s the thing about the Oilers: they’re still the offensive powerhouse in this matchup.
Edmonton has outscored L.A. in each of the last three regular seasons. This year, they’ve put up 13 more goals than the Kings – and that’s with a bunch of injuries along the way.
When it comes to star power, it’s not even close. Sure, the Kings have future Hall of Famers in Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. But Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are in a league of their own.
Just look at their playoff history: In their last 18 postseason meetings, the Oilers have scored five or more goals seven times. That’s pretty incredible.
This year’s Edmonton team might be their most dangerous yet. Picture this lineup down the middle: McDavid, Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Adam Henrique. That’s the kind of depth that keeps opposing coaches up at night.
The numbers back it up too. At 5-on-5, Edmonton’s creating high-quality scoring chances at the second-best rate in the NHL. The Kings aren’t far behind at ninth, but they’ve cooled off lately – dropping to 17th over their last 25 games.
Meanwhile, the Oilers are heating up at just the right time. Their depth players are finding the net, and their stars are, well, stars.
The Kings have definitely improved. They’re not the same defensive team hoping to win 2-1 anymore.
But when it comes to pure offensive firepower? Edmonton’s still got the edge. And in playoff hockey, that could make all the difference.
