The late game on Tuesday night on NBCSN has the Edmonton Oilers visiting the Los Angeles Kings. In a reversal of fortunes, the Oilers are the team headed to the playoffs, while the Kings are going to miss out. Edmonton could actually finish in first place in the Pacific Division, so this is actually a more important game for the Oilers than it is for the Kings. The Oilers have won the last three in this series after dropping the previous six.
At 10:30 p.m. ET, tune into NBCSN for live television coverage of this NHL game on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at Staples Center.
We'll have NHL odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NHL Tuesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Oilers have had two days off to get ready for this game that is the first of a three-game road trip. Edmonton is 20-18 at home with 12 games going over, 24 going under, with two pushes.
The Kings had Monday off after hosting Arizona on Sunday. The Kings were 21-16 in their first 37 home games with 13 going over, 13 going under, with 11 pushes.
Special Teams
The Oilers are 5th in the league on the power play at 22.2%. They are scoring 2.9 goals per game, which is 10th in the league. Edmonton is just 19th in penalty killing at 80.2% and they are giving up 2.5 goals per game, which is 7th in the league. Edmonton is getting great play from Connor McDavid who leads the league in scoring.
“Remarkable, really. I've had the honor of being around some tremendous players in my day — Datsyuk, Thorton, Marleau, Crosby, you can go on and on — he's at a very very high level right now.” head coach Todd McLellan said, “He's separating himself, I believe, from a lot of people in the league, and I say that with a lot of respect for the others, but he's just remarkable right now.”
The Kings simply don’t score enough goals to win games consistently. They are 16th on the power play at 19.3% and that is 16th in the league. The Kings only score 2.4 goals per game and that is 26th in the league. Los Angeles is 2nd in penalty killing at 85.3% and they are 3rd in goals allowed at 2.4 per contest.
Scheduling Situation
The Oilers are tied with Anaheim for first place in the Pacific Division with four games left. Edmonton plays three of the four on the road, as they play the Kings, Sharks and Canucks. The Oilers finish up the season with the Canucks on Sunday and that game will be a back-to-back and the second of a home and home. Edmonton is already in the playoffs and they are having a great season. McDavid might win the MVP and goaltender Cam Talbot is going to finish with the most wins in a season in franchise history.
The Kings are not going to make the playoffs and they may be officially eliminated before this game against the Oilers even begins. Nashville needs just one point in their last four games to officially eliminate Los Angeles. The Kings finish up with Calgary and Chicago at home before closing out on the road at Anaheim on Sunday.
Free NHL Picks
Edmonton has won three of the four meetings this season, with three of the four going under the total. The Oilers have had all kinds of trouble in L.A. in recent seasons, losing the last ten.
It has been a history making season for the Oilers as they haven’t made the playoffs in more than a decade so why not do something that they haven’t done since 2011 and win in Los Angeles. I will go against the trends and take Edmonton, and I will also play the game under the total.
NHL Odds: Oilers 3, Kings 1
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