LA Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers Round One Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview

What you need to know ahead of this series between the LA Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers:

GAME 1

• When: April 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM PST

• Where: Crypto.com Arena 

• Watch: ESPN 2, SN, TVAS 2

GAME 2

• When: April 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM PST

• Where: Crypto.com Arena 

• Watch: TBS, Max, SN, CBC, TVAS

GAME 3

• When: April 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM PST

• Where: Rogers Place 

• Watch: SN, CBC, TVAS 2, TNT, truTV, Max

GAME 4

• When: April 27, 2025 at 6:30 PM PST

• Where: Rogers Place

• Watch: SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS, truTV, Max

NOTE: Games 5-7 are TBD for each team as they will be scheduled if necessary

The Kings and Oilers will face one another for the fourth time in a row in round one of the 2024-25 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs which will kick off on the Kings’ home ice at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings have had the upper hand when playing against the Oilers as they won three out of the four games played against one another during the 2024-25 regular season. Although the Kings have had the upper hand, the resilience and the upset of the previous Stanley Cup Finals will be what fuels the Oilers in this series.  

The Oilers enter the playoffs with some momentum from their 3-0 shutout against the San Jose Sharks during their last game of the regular season. The Kings go into the playoffs with a clean slate as they hope to do better compared to their 5-1 loss against the Calgary Flames during their last game of the regular season.  

The Kings were the second team in the Pacific Division to clinch their spot in the playoffs after their 3-0 shutout victory against the Edmonton Oilers on April 5, 2025. The Kings ended the regular season with the following stats: 105 points, a 48-25-9 season record, a 17.87 PP%, an 81.43 PK%, and 5 shutouts recorded. #9 Adrian Kempe led the Kings with the most points and goals recorded by the end of the regular season as he ended with 73 points total (35G, 38A). #11 C. Anže Kopitar led the Kings with the most assists by the end of the regular season with 46 assists recorded. The first half of the Kings goaltending tandem is #35 Darcy Kuemper who ended the regular season with a 31-11-7 record, a 2.02 GAA, a 0.922 SV%, and 5 shutouts. #31 David Rittich completed the second half of the Kings’ goaltending tandem and ended the regular season with a 16-14-2 record, 2.84 GAA, and a 0.887 SV%.

The Edmonton Oilers were the third team in the Pacific Division to clinch their spot in the playoffs after their 4-2 win against the San Jose Sharks on April 11, 2025. The Oilers ended the regular season with 101 points, a 48-29-5 season record, a 24.76 PP%, a 78.35 PK%, and 3 shutouts. #29 Leon Draisaitl led the team with the most points and goals scored by the end of the regular season as he recorded 106 points (52G, 54A). #97 C. Connor McDavid led the team with the most assists recorded as he ended with 74 assists. In regards to goaltending, #74 Stuart Skinner made up the first half of the Oilers’ goaltending tandem and ended the regular season with a 26-18-4 record, a 2.81 GAA, a 0.896 SV%, and 3 shutouts. #30 Calvin Pickard made up the second half of the tandem and ended the regular season with a 22-10-1 season record, a 2.71 GAA, and a 0.900 SV%.. 

Going into this matchup, the Kings ended the regular season with a 17.87 PP% overall power play success rate which is lower compared to Oilers’ 24.76% overall power play success rate. The Oilers ended the regular season with a 78.35 PK% overall penalty killing success rate which is lower compared to the Kings’ 81.43 PK% penalty killing success rate. When they played against one another during the regular season, the Kings outscored (12 G vs. 4 G) and outshot (124 SOG vs. 105 SOG) the Oilers. On average between the four times that these two teams faced one another during the regular season, the Kings had a higher faceoff percentage (51.65% vs. 48.35%). However, the Oilers found more success on their power play attempts (12.50% vs. 6.25%). 

The Oilers, despite their previous challenges, go into these match-ups with vengeance in order make it far in the playoffs and advance to the finals for a second year in a row. On the other hand, the Kings go into these match-ups with the momentum from their previous regular season games against the Oilers.

Come back to read about how this series went down in the upcoming game recap articles!