Kings host the Oilers with 1-0 series lead
Edmonton Oilers (48-29-5, in the Pacific Division) vs. Los Angeles Kings (48-25-9, in the Pacific Division)
Los Angeles; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDT
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Kings -133, Oilers +113; over/under is 5.5
NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Kings lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Kings host the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 1-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Monday for the sixth time this season. The Kings won the last meeting 6-5. Phillip Danault scored two goals in the victory.
Los Angeles is 15-10-2 against the Pacific Division and 48-25-9 overall. The Kings have a 16-4-6 record in games decided by a goal.
Edmonton is 15-11-1 against the Pacific Division and 48-29-5 overall. The Oilers have a 25-9-3 record when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent.
TOP PERFORMERS: Adrian Kempe has scored 35 goals with 38 assists for the Kings. Andrei Kuzmenko has three goals and 10 assists over the last 10 games.
Leon Draisaitl has 52 goals and 54 assists for the Oilers. Connor Brown has scored five goals over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 8-2-0, averaging 4.1 goals, 7.1 assists, 3.3 penalties and 6.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.
Oilers: 6-4-0, averaging 2.8 goals, 5.2 assists, 4.1 penalties and 12 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Kings: None listed.
Oilers: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
'I always hated it': NHL expert blasts Edmonton Oilers for major tactical fail
This in from ESPN's Ray Ferraro, perhaps the sharpest commentator in hockey, his assessment of the failure of the Edmonton Oilers to cleanly move the puck out of their own end in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. On The Ray & Dregs podcast, Ferraro noted the Oilers often attempted to lob the puck out, only to lose possession in the neutral zone and have the pounding Panthers come right back at them. 'That high flip has become a tactic around the league,' Ferraro said. 'And I always hated it because we finally get the puck, and now it's like we're on the punt coverage team. Right? They flip it up, we go down, they've got the puck again. Like, why can't we pass it out? And if Edmonton's D can get back to make a first clean touch, I think their first play has got to go up the middle of the ice. You rim it around the boards, and Florida just snuffs it out. Like, (Edmonton needs to) get back quick as you can. Maybe that open spot is the middle of the ice, and that backs off their D. And if it doesn't, then you can go to the high flip.' Ferraro added: 'But it's not easy, right? Like Florida is not going to give you any time to do it.' 1. To check the validity of Ferraro assessment I went over zone exist in the first period when the Oilers were most on their back heal against the Panthers. Florida built up a 2-0 lead in the first period on two even strength goals, the second one coming after the Oilers failed to advance the puck, Edmonton's Mattias Ekholm whiffing on a clearance and Florida charging right back into the Oilers zone to score. 2. I looked at every time the Panthers or the Oilers gained possession of the puck when they were in their own d-zone. If they made a clean break out play — which included any d-zone clearance that went deep into their opponent's end and gave the clearing team a chance to forecheck effectively — they got a passing grade. If the puck was picked off in the d-zone or neutral zone leading to a quick counterattack, they got a failing grade. 3. Florida made clean exits on 26 out of 40 attempts, a success rate of 65 per cent. 4. Edmonton made clean exits on 26 out of 53 attempts, a success rate of 49 per cent. 5. That's a significant difference between the two teams. That's a major advantage for the Panthers. In building their 2-0 lead, they relied heavily on effective counterattacks, while thwarting Edmonton's attempt at the same. This led to more offensive zone time for the Panthers and led directly to one goal. 6. So what to do? The Oilers have seven d-men who can move the puck. But Troy Stecher struggled most to move it against Florida in Game 5. John Klingberg is a sound passer of the puck and more creative than Stecher. The Oilers should likely go back to him. Ekholm also had his struggles, so maybe move him back to pair up with Evan Bouchard. Darnell Nurse and Klingberg would be one other pairing, with Brett Kulak and Jake Walman rounding things out. These d-men can all make a pass. They can all skate with the puck. They're full capable of beating the Florida forecheck, even as the checkers come in fast, hard and dirty. Lobbing the puck out or rimming the puck around the boards didn't work will in Game 5. Not one lob or rim worked to move the puck out under possession in that key period. The play can work as a last resort, but they also fly in the face of Edmonton's strength, quick advancement of the puck to fast forwards like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. It also strikes me that Edmonton's centres might provide a bit more support in the d-zone, working with the d-men to advance it, something Florida excels at, a three-man unit pushing the puck up ice, two d-men and usually the centre helping out. 7. The key to this series is whether Edmonton's d-man puck movement can get the best of that fierce Florida. forecheck. If Edmonton can, they will launch dangerous counterattacks and be more able to dump the puck in places where Oilers forecheckers can create havoc, either winning the puck or hammering on the Florida defenders. It's time for Edmonton to launch it's own blitz of passing, skating and hitting. Florida is at their worst in their own defensive half of the ice. They can be exploited with stretch passes for breakaways. Now is the time. Game 6 is the moment.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Report: Bogoljub Marković to work out with Kings before 2025 NBA draft
Report: Bogoljub Marković to work out with Kings before 2025 NBA draft Kings pre-draft workout on Monday: Mark Sears (Alabama) PG, 5'10", 183 Javon Small (West Virginia) PG, 6'1", 190 Kobe Johnson (UCLA) SF, 6'4", 193 Dink Pate ( G League) SF, 6'6", 201 Oumar Ballo (Indiana) C, 6'11", 274 Bogoljub Marković (Mega Bemax) C, 6'11", 213 — Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) June 16, 2025 Serbian forward Bogoljub Marković will reportedly work out with the Sacramento Kings on Monday ahead of the 2025 NBA draft, according to Sean Cunningham of KCRA-TV. Marković was named the ABA League Top Prospect, averaging 13.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists on 38.8% shooting from 3-point range in 32 games with Mega Basket. He registered five 20-point games, including a season-high 27 points, five rebounds and four assists on March 9. The visit with the Kings is the first known workout for Marković this draft cycle. He will be joined by Mark Sears (Alabama), Javon Small (West Virginia), Kobe Johnson (UCLA), Dink Pate (Mexico City Capitanes) and Oumar Ballo (Indiana). Marković is projected to be a second-round pick thanks to his offensive versatility, ability to handle the ball and work inside the paint. He also showcased his vision throughout the season by making several timely passes on the break or in pick-and-roll situations. The soon-to-be 20-year-old dazzled at the Nike Hoop Summit with Team World in April, recording 16 points and 10 rebounds in an overtime loss against the United States. He emerged as one of the top players, showcasing his skills in each area of his game on both sides of the ball. The Kings currently have only one draft selection, the 42nd pick in the second round. They have also hosted several other potential targets, including Koby Brea (Kentucky), Vladislav Goldin (Michigan), Caleb Love (Arizona), Tyrese Proctor (Duke) and Alex Toohey (NBL), among others. The 2025 NBA draft will take place on June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Marchand, Bennett too hot for Oilers to handle in Game 5 of Stanley Cup final
EDMONTON — Driving the Florida Panthers attack in the playoffs is a player in his NHL prime and another acting like he is. Sam Bennett, 28, and Brad Marchand, 37, continued to be a lot for the Oilers to handle in the Stanley Cup final in Florida's 5-2 win over Edmonton on Saturday to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Advertisement Marchand scored twice Saturday — Florida's first and third goals — to reach half a dozen goals in the Cup final. Florida's second goal of the game was Bennett's fifth of the Cup final and his NHL-leading 15th of the post-season. The Panthers can close out the series at home Tuesday and become the first back-to-back Stanley Cup champions since the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. A new ingredient for the Panthers this post-season, however, is the five-foot-nine, 180-pound Marchand, who Florida acquired at the trade deadline after his almost 16 years with the Boston Bruins. Marchand's six goals was the most by any player in the championship series since Esa Tikkanen in 1988. Advertisement Marchand, from Halifax, seeks the second Stanley Cup of his career after lifting the trophy with the Boston Bruins in 2011 at the age of 23. He reached another two Cup finals with Boston before he was dealt to Florida this winter. When asked what the 2011 edition of Brad Marchand would say to his 2025 version, he replied "man, that guy's good looking." "Sometimes you get bounces, sometimes you don't but definitely you'd be grateful to be in this opportunity and have another opportunity to be in the finals and be part of a really good team for sure," Marchand continued. Bennett, from Holland Landing, Ont., pushed his road goal streak to six straight games when he wired a rebound past Edmonton's Calvin Pickard to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead in the first period. Advertisement A front-runner for this year's Conn Smythe Trophy that goes to the NHL's playoff MVP, Bennett ranks second in post-season in hits (103) to Edmonton's Zach Hyman (111). "We've talked about it so much," said Bennett's teammate Sam Reinhart. "It's just his game translates so well to this time of year. He creates so much room for himself." Marchand and Bennett each with five, or more, goals apiece in the Cup final are the first teammates to do so since Montreal's Frank Mahovlich and Yvan Cournoyer in 1973. "They're just certainly capable of processing the context of the game," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. "They don't get too high, they don't go too low. Their energy level is high, and they're very focused on the game. Advertisement "There's a mental toughness there, a mental capacity to stay within the game and not try to break it open. Just wait. Patience." The ageless Marchand scored both his goals off draws that Edmonton won, but he got to the puck first and beat Oilers to the net to score twice. "What he can do under duress in a small area is world class," Maurice said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 14, 2025. Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
