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Kings vs. Oilers Predictions & Odds: Wednesday's NHL Playoffs Expert Picks

Gary Pearson

Last Updated: May 1, 2024 7:24 PM EDT • 3 min 28 sec read.

Connor McDavid barrels in on the Kings in the first period during Game 4 as we dive into our expert predictions for Game 5 of the Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers first-round playoff series.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 28: Connor McDavid in the first period during Game 4 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 28, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP via AFP

The Edmonton Oilers look to close their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, as we offer our expert Kings-Oilers predictions for Game 5 based on the best NHL odds. 

In Game 4, the Edmonton Oilers (49-27-6) broke the high-scoring pattern of this first-round series with a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings (44-27-11), who are now on the verge of elimination.

The Oilers are heavily favored by our best sports betting sites as the series returns to Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, with puck drop scheduled for Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.

In Game 4, Stuart Skinner's stellar goaltending thwarted the Kings despite the team executing its game plan well, leading to a loss. Even while being outshot 33-13, the Oilers managed to secure a pivotal win, giving them a commanding 3-1 series lead to bolster their Stanley Cup odds.

Here are our best Kings vs. Oilers predictions and NHL picks (odds via our best NHL betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Kings vs. Oilers Game 5 expert picks

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Kings vs. Oilers predictions for Wednesday

Oilers Over 3.5 goals ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Oilers scored at least four goals in the first three games, averaging 5.7 per contest. Their prolific offensive output in the opening three contests made the Game 4 outlier all the more surprising. Repeating the feeble Game 4 offensive display would be more shocking than seeing people put up Christmas decorations in September. 

Kris Knoblauch's team scored at least four goals in eight of its previous 10 home games. The only exceptions came without Connor McDavid in the lineup. Edmonton has also netted at least four goals in six consecutive home encounters against the Kings dating back to the first round of the 2022-23 playoffs.

The -120 odds at Betway represent an implied probability of 54.55%. A winning $10 wager will yield an $8.33 profit. 

Best odds: -120 via Betway

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Oilers -1.5 versus Kings ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Despite the far more pleasing climate, the Oilers will not want to return to Los Angeles anytime soon. Understanding how important a few extra days of rest could be for the team, the Oilers should match the Kings' desperation level. The Kings did everything right in Game 4, following head coach Jim Hiller's game plan as perfectly as Taylor Swift executes her choreography. Yet they still lost. 

The Oilers are as confident as they are irrepressible on home ice. Los Angeles managed to steal Game 2 in Edmonton due to a not-so-funny comedy of Oilers' blunders. I can't see Edmonton floundering nearly as much in Game 5.

Additionally, the Kings must be aggressive down the stretch of Wednesday's must-win contest if they're trailing. If that scenario pans out, expect Hiller to pull his netminder early and often.

Empty-net goals in the first round have come more frequently than Elon Musk's tweets, so don't be surprised to see the Oilers finish the Kings off in that fashion. Betway offers +120 odds, which leads to a profit of $12 on a $10 winning wager. The +120 odds imply a winning probability of 45.45%.  

Best odds: +120 via Betway

Leon Draisaitl Over 2.5 shots ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Like most of his teammates, Leon Draisaitl struggled to impact proceedings in Game 4 the way he usually does. The bullish center had two of the Oilers' 13 shots, the first time in the series he failed to snap at least three on goal. Like a flank strap fastened too tightly on a bull's underbelly, Draisaitl will be somewhat agitated after his Game 4 performance.  

With at least three shots in six of the last eight games against the Kings, look for Draisaitl to make amends for his comparatively inadequate Hollywood showing. At -134, a $10 winning bet will yield a $7.46 profit. The -134 odds imply a 57.26% probability.  

Best odds: -134 via Betway

Leon Draisaitl anytime goal ⭐⭐⭐

Draisaitl scored in two of the four playoff games thus far and has three goals thanks to netting a pair in Game 3. He also had two goals in four regular-season games against the Kings, one on home ice. The 28-year-old lit the lamp in the series clincher against Los Angeles in the first round of last season's playoffs and should be highly motivated to end this one in five games. 

Betway offers +110 odds for a Draisaitl goal, which will pay a profit of $11 on a winning $10 wager. The +110 odds imply a 47.62% probability.

Best odds: +110 via Betway

Kings vs. Oilers Game 5 info & odds

  • When: Wednesday, May 1
  • Puck drop: 10 p.m. ET
  • Where: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta
  • How to watch: ESPN, Sportsnet
  • Favorite: Oilers (-200 via Betway)

Kings-Oilers predictions made Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. ET.

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Written By:
Gary Pearson
Gary Pearson is a sports writer specializing in hockey, soccer, NFL, and tennis coverage. He has 10 years of industry experience and has contributed to various publications, including BetMGM, Covers.com, the Hockey Writers, Yardbarker, NJ.com, the Miami Herald, the Canadian Press, and the Calgary Herald.