Kings Notes:
The Kings travel to Edmonton to open Round One of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Following Games 1 and 2, the series will shift to Crypto.com Arena for Games 3 (April 21) and 4 (April 23).
The Kings and Oilers met four times during the 2022-23 regular-season, splitting the season series at two games apiece (3-1 W on Nov. 16; 6-3 W on Jan. 9; 0-2 L on March 30; 1-3 L on April 4).
Captain Anze Kopitar completed the 2022-23 season as the Kings leading scorer with 74 points (28-46=74), marking the fifth consecutive season leading the club in scoring and 15th time overall, the most in team history. He joined Gordie Howe (17 times) as the only two players in NHL history to lead the same franchise in points at least 15 times.
The Kings skate into Rogers Place with a wealth of playoff experience, led by Anze Kopitar (7), Drew Doughty (7), Alex Edler (9), Phillip Danault (4) and Viktor Arvidsson (6). Those five skaters have all reached the Stanley Cup Final at least once in their playoff careers and have a combined playoff experience of 33 Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance led by veteran blueliner Alex Edler.
The Kings power play ranks 4th in the NHL (25.3%).
The Kings penalty kill ranks 23rd in the NHL (75.7%).
The Kings are 3rd in faceoff win percentage (53.2%).
Oilers Notes:
The Oilers power play ranked 1st in the NHL (32.4%), setting the all-time NHL record for power play percentage in a season. Despite the record, the Oilers went 2-for-13 (15.4%) on the PP against the Kings this season.
The Oilers penalty kill ranks 20th in the NHL (77.0%).
The Oilers are 15th in faceoff win percentage (50.8%).
Who to Watch:
Viktor Arvidsson, who led all Kings skaters in points against Edmonton this season with six (2-4=6).
Connor McDavid, who notched 153 (64-89=153) this season, becoming the first player since Mario Lemieux during the 1995-96 season to hit the 150-point threshold. McDavid recorded three points (2-1=3) in the four games against the Kings this season.
