The 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are full of high-stakes matchups, but few bring the sky-high levels of emotional intensity which will be on display throughout the Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings series. At a time when sports fans complain that teams don’t care anymore, these two squads prove otherwise — there’s some real hatred involved in this opening-round best-of-seven.
As the best player in the world faces off against hockey’s most dominant home team, DraftKings Network has you covered with an Oilers vs. Kings preview, betting odds, and a top pick.
Oilers vs. Kings first-round series preview
Edmonton Oilers
After nearly erasing a 3-1 deficit in last year’s Stanley Cup Finals but eventually falling short in seven games, the Oilers are out to avenge their past shortcomings. The team hasn’t won a title since 1990 despite employing the best player in the world in Connor McDavid and an elite co-star in Leon Draisaitl over the last decade, but might this be the year they finally hoist the Cup?
It might happen, but this Oilers’ squad isn’t exactly blowing teams out of the water as seen in the past. The team ranks just outside the top-10 in goals per game with an average of 3.16 a night, while their special teams offense ranks 12th in power play percentage at 23.7%. It should be noted that both McDavid and Draisaitl each missed double-digit games due to injury, but as long as the elite pairing are on the ice, they make life easier for everyone else on the team. Third-leading scorer Evan Bouchard’s 67 points were a down year from a production standpoint, but with a handful of 40+ point scorers filling out the Oilers’ top-end depth, the team is still well-equipped for a playoff run so long as their stars remain healthy.
On the defensive side, Edmonton ranks 14th in average goals allowed with 2.87 per contest. The defense could do a better job on the blue line, but Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner’s save percentage starts with an eight over the campaign and since the 4 Nations break, a concerning trend heading into the postseason. He played well in last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs with a SV% of .901 and a 2.45 GAA, but isn’t the most predictable presence in goal. Additionally, the Oilers’ penalty kill falls 16th at 78.2%, another unencouraging sign.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings haven’t won a playoff series since their 2014 Stanley Cup run, partially because they keep running into Edmonton. If there’s ever a year in which they can banish their rival, now is the time. These Kings are a ton of fun and exhibit qualities of a potential dark-horse contender.
First and foremost, Los Angeles’ NHL franchise hangs its hat on defense and grit. They don’t score as much as top contenders at 3.04 goals per game (14th-best), but there’s less of a need to pour on points when the defense shuts the other side down on a nightly basis. The Kings concede a stifling 2.48 goals per game, the NHL’s second-best mark, and their penalty kill ranks eighth overall at 81.4%. The players in Los Angeles play a physical brand of hockey and deliver plenty of hits (21.06 per 60 minutes) which also provides an advantage over an opponent ranking dead-last in the stat.
The Kings’ grinding style wears out their foes and works in the regular season, but their lack of a true high-end star might become a problem. Adrian Kempe paces the roster with 73 points, followed by Anze Kopitar with 67 and Kevin Fiala with 60. While each had a good regular season, the playoffs are a different beast and the Oilers’ McDavid/Draisaitl duo is the top pairing in the sport. Without a real superstar of their own, the Kings may struggle to compete over the course of seven games.
Keys to the Series
These teams met in each of the last three postseasons, with the Oilers emerging victorious in each series. Round four looks a tad different, however, with the Kings entering as the higher seed with home-ice advantage. Why does that matter? With a 31-6 record at their own barn, Los Angeles is the NHL’s deadliest team when playing on home ice. This is a major trend to keep an eye on — if the Kings can steal a game on the road, this series might be over faster than most folks expect.
We also love a hot goalie, and boy, do the Kings have one. Darcy Kuemper is on fire with a .939 save percentage and 1.47 goals-against average since March 1. He’s won 13 of 18 games in that span and looks like the superior netminder between these two teams. Skinner could always heat up, but Los Angeles maintains a clear advantage between the poles entering the series.
Saying special teams is a key to the series feels like a bit of a cop-out — of course it’s crucial — but it’s tough to deny the Kings’ struggles on the power play. They score just 17.9% of the time with a man advantage, ranking them 27th among all teams. Can this poor production be attributed to their lack of a go-to star on the first power play unit? Perhaps, but whatever the cause, they must improve that figure if they intend on competing for a Stanley Cup. Advantage, Oilers.
Oilers vs. Kings first-round series odds, pick
Despite entering the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the lower seed and without home-ice advantage, the Oilers sit at -130 odds and are favored to win this series on DraftKings Sportsbook. The precedent of past Oilers vs. Kings matchups almost certainly factors into these odds, plus, the two best skaters in the series play for Edmonton. Still, Los Angeles’ +110 odds to advance hold some appeal.
The betting public recognizes this fact — 55% of series winner bets on DraftKings Sportsbook are on the Kings, while 74% of the handle lies on the team to advance through the first round.
Can we call this an upset if the Kings are the higher seed? The rules here are unclear, but bouncing McDavid and Draisaitl from the playoffs remains a gargantuan regardless of seeding. Despite the difficulty, this year’s edition of the Oilers vs. Kings matchup just feels different. Los Angeles is fantastic at home and plays a more physical brand of hockey than Edmonton does. With that said, they’ve earned the honor of an upset best bet in the series winner market.
Top Pick: LA Kings Series Winner (+110)
