NHL: Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings odds, picks, and predictions

On Monday night, the Los Angeles Kings and the Edmonton Oilers will square off in the first game of their first-round NHL playoff series. The Los Angeles Kings will enter the playoffs as the third seed in the Pacific division, having amassed 99 points and a 44-27-11 record so far this season. Anze Kopitar leads the Kings in scoring with 67 points, which includes a team-high 48 assists and 19 goals, while Viktor Arvidsson has 49 points, which includes 20 goals and 29 assists, and Adrian Kempe has 54 points, which includes a team-high 35 goals of his own. Viktor Arvidsson is the team's leading scorer with 67 points, which includes a team-high 48 assists and 19 goals. Phillip Danault has 51 points on the season, including 27 goals and 24 assists, while Trevor Moore has 48 points on the season, including 31 assists. Jonathan Quick has gone 22-13-9 with a 2.58 goals-against average and a.909 save percentage in his first season in the NHL, while Cal Petersen has gone 20-14-2 with a 2.90 goals-against average and an.895 save percentage in his second season.

The Edmonton Oilers will enter the postseason as the #2 seed in the Pacific Division after finishing the regular season with 104 points and a 49-27-6 record. Oilers forward Connor McDavid has 123 points, including 44 goals and a team-high 79 assists, while forward Leon Draisaitl has 110 points, including a team-high 55 goals and 55 assists, to lead the team in scoring. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has 50 points this season, including 39 assists, and Zach Hyman has 54 points, including 27 goals, so far. Mikko Koskinen has seen the majority of Edmonton's action in goal this season, going 27-12-4 with a 3.10 goals-against average and a.903 save percentage. Stuart Skinner has gone 6-6 with a 2.62 goals-against average and a.913 save percentage, and Mike Smith has gone 16-9-2 with a 2.81 goals-against average and a.913 save percentage.

When playing as an underdog, Los Angeles is 0-5 in their last 5 games, and they are 0-4 in their last 4 games when playing against a team with a winning record, while the under is 5-0-1 in their last 6 postseason games when playing as an underdog. As a favorite, Edmonton has gone 5-0 in their last 5 games against a team that has a winning record and 0-6 in their last 6 playoff games, while the over has gone 13-3 in their last 16 games as a favorite at the Rogers Place.

Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings picks and predictions

My Pick: Los Angeles Kings