Kings of Los Angeles
The Californians placed 5th in the West and will again have to face Edmonton for the start of the playoffs, like last year. The Kings lead the conference in points at home, but away matches are more modest. Todd McLellan’s team has not been a top contender recently, losing to Colorado, Vegas and twice to Edmonton, which has been in excellent form this month.
Oilmen from Edmonton
Edmonton ultimately defeated all opponents and finished the preliminary round in the top three of the conference. Top offense in the league, 2 straight bans this month (first of the season) and a long streak recently rightfully make Jay Woodcroft’s team the favorites in this confrontation, and the Oilers have a chance to lead a 2-0 series by hosting their first games on home ice.
Forecast
A month before the end of the regular season, the hosts reached their design capabilities, not giving themselves any illusions and not losing in regulation time not once in their previous 15 outings on the ice. If we look even deeper, Woodcroft’s men have been consistent at home for 10 games on a regular basis, and their productivity is the highest (3.96 per game on average). Opponents prefer an open style where one is bolder than the other and is unlikely to change their preferences in the first game of the series, where I don’t expect a long reconnaissance, because. opponents know each other well. Therefore, I believe that opponents who are in the top 3 teams in the playoffs in terms of goals conceded have a much better chance of winning 5,000. on the eve of the qualifying matches, she gained excellent form.