Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings will wrap up Wednesday’s action in the NHL 2021-22 playoffs. The home side didn’t plan to open the series with a defeat, and they need to bounce back and celebrate on the home ice. The visitors were very good in the tie opener, and they are confident enough to try taking a 2-0 lead.
Edmonton was a firm favorite in front of its fans, but they are 1-0 down after Game 1. They shouldn’t let themselves get complacent if they want to stay out of trouble in this series. On the other hand, the away side has the chance to return home with a great advantage. Even if they lose this match, Los Angeles has already grabbed one win.
Edmonton Oilers – Will they bounce back and win?
The Oilers entered the post-season after winning three times in a row, but their streak ended already in Game 1 of the playoffs. Despite being more dominant in the final third, having four shots more than their rivals. The hosts failed to convert it into a valuable win. Edmonton should have been more clinical in front of the opposition’s net, and they let the victory slip away from their hands. Although the Oilers trailed 2-0 in the first period, they managed to equalize twice, but that wasn’t enough for a positive result.
Kailer Yamamoto and Connor McDavid were the most efficient skaters for Edmonton in Game 1, producing a goal and an assist each. Leon Draisaitl also managed to get his name displayed on the scoresheet. It was a game without many penalty minutes, as both sides had ten each. Although McDavid and Draisaitl did well in the offense in the first match of the series, they should pick up where they left off in the regular season and convert more chances into goals. On the other hand, Mike Smith didn’t enjoy his time between the pipes, as he conceded four goals for a .886 save percentage.
Expected Line-Up: Mikko Koskinen, Tyson Barrie, Evan Bouchard, Connor McDavid, Warren Foegele, Leon Draisaitl
with best odds
Los Angeles Kings – Can they produce another upset?
Although they were considered heavy underdogs, the Kings enjoyed an excellent displayed and deservedly celebrated a 4-3 win. Despite having fewer shots on goal compared to their rivals, the visitors still had 35 attempts. Los Angeles opened the game well and already had a 2-0 lead in the first period. Although their opponents managed to equalize twice, the Kings eventually booked a vital win on the road. They have been running hot lately, and Los Angeles celebrated seven wins on the previous nine occasions. The Kings are full of confidence, and they want to continue their run.
Trevor Moore led the Kings’ offensive effort with a goal and a pair of assists, while Phillip Danault and Alex Iafallo managed to get their names displayed on the scoresheet, followed by an assist each. Brendan Lemieux also found the back of the opposition’s net and contributed to early success in this series. On the other hand, Los Angeles’s most efficient player in the regular season, Anze Kopitar, failed to snatch any point in this encounter. Regarding the goaltending, Jonathan Quick had a very good .923 save percentage despite allowing three goals.
Expected Line-Up: Jonathan Quick, Tobias Bjornfot, Matt Roy, Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar, Phillip Danault
Expert Pick #1 – Los Angeles Kings +1.5 @-150
I’m not sure if the Kings can snatch the second victory in this series, but they can definitely keep this encounter tight. Edmonton will search for a win here, but the away side is in a better momentum, and they shouldn’t lose by more than a goal. Los Angeles seems to be a solid pick on the puck line market.
Expert Pick #2 – Over 6.5 @+105
It should be another high-scoring game, and these two teams might produce at least seven goals again. They had a lot of shots in Game 1, and I expect another exciting encounter at Rogers Place. Give me the Over and the plus money as the second bet.
Expert Pick #3 – Oliers Over 3.5 @-115
The Oilers should be more productive in the offense if they want to secure a positive result in this game and level the tie before taking a trip to Los Angeles. I see them scoring at least four goals in front of the home fans, and I’ll take this one as my third pick for this matchup.
