Special Teams
The Kings special teams units both rank in the bottom third of the NHL. With a power play ranked 27th in the NHL (16.1%) and a penalty kill ranked 22nd (76.7%), the Kings will look to keep the play at 5-on-5.
As for the Edmonton, the Oilers power play ranks third in the NHL at 26.1% and has a penalty kill ranked 17th in the league (79.4%).
Something to note, the Kings locked down the powerful Oilers power play this season, having not allowed a goal against in 10 Edmonton opportunities. On the flip side, the Kings went 3-16 on their power play against the Oilers, scoring three goals at Rogers Place in Alberta.
Limiting Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl
The Kings went 1-for-2 during the regular season on this key to the series. McDavid led the NHL in scoring with 123 points (44-79=123) and Draisaitl ranked fourth in the NHL in scoring 110 points (55-55=110). In their four games against the Oilers this season, the Kings conceded six points (3-3=6) to McDavid, but held Draisaitl to just two points (1-1=2).
This season, when McDavid and Draisaitl are both held off of the scoresheet, the Oilers are 3-9-0. The matchup down the middle with McDavid and Draisaitl for Edmonton against Anze Kopitar and Phillip Danault is one to watch for.
Goaltending
Projected starters Jonathan Quick and Mike Smith will face in the playoffs for the first time since the 2012 Western Conference Finals when the Kings defeated the Phoenix Coyotes in six games.
Quick, enters the playoffs playing his best hockey of the season, winning six of his last seven starts. During that span, Quick put together a 2.11 GAA and a .918 SV%. Quick has a career playoff record of 46-39-0 with a 2.33 GAA and a .922 SV%.
Smith also comes into the playoffs playing his best hockey. Since April 12th, Smith holds a 5-0-0 record with a 1.20 GAA and a .966 SV%. But, Smith has struggled in the playoffs during his time in Edmonton. In his two seasons with the Oilers, Smith is 0-5-0 with a 3.13 GAA and a .893 SV% in the playoffs.
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The Kings and Oilers both enter the playoffs on a hot streak. The Kings are 5-0-1 in their last six games while the Oilers are 7-1-0 in their last eight.
Game 1 takes place tomorrow, Monday, May 2nd at 7:00 on Bally Sports West at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
The Kings will host the Oilers at Crypto.com Arena for Game 3 at 7:00 pm on Friday, May 6th, Game 4 at 7:00 pm on Sunday, May 8th and Game 6 (if necessary) at 7:00 pm on Thursday, April 12th. For tickets, click
HERE
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