Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings: Stanley Cup Playoffs, Game 4 Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/8/2022

by Chuck Sommers

Saturday, May 07, 2022
Western Conference First Round, Game 4 -- Oilers lead 2-1

Time: 10 p.m. ET
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Where to watch: TBS

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: Oilers -150, Kings +130
BetMGM: Oilers -160, Kings +135
Caesars: Oilers -161, Kings +140

Ben Burns has reeled off a strong 24-13-0 run over the last month in the NHL. The last week of the NHL season is here before we get cracking to playoff coverage. The postseason is here, the matchups are set, and you can count on our coverage for all the playoff matchups well underway and already feeling some sort of excitement. Who's going to win the Cup? You need to be tuned in here to find out all the expert analysis. Catch Ben's plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.

Oilers - Kings preview and analysis


I think it's safe to say that we say RIP to the Los Angeles Kings. They won Game 1. The Edmonton Oilers took that personally. By outscoring them 14-2 since Game 1, we seem to be just mere days away from putting the Kings away for good.

Game 4 of the first-round series is on Sunday in Los Angeles and if there was anything to further expect in this one, unless Jonathan Quick turns back the clock and completely shuts down the Edmonton offense that has haunted his dreams for the past two games, this series is over. It's just a matter of time.

And quite honestly, I think we could all stand for this series to be over because it is an embarrassment to the sport of hockey. To be fair, the Vegas Golden Knights not making the playoffs and giving us this atrocity of a series is fully their fault.

As a result, the Kings lost 8-2 on Friday and we never lived to talk about the tale ever again. Evander Kane had a hat trick, and the Kings' effort lasted as long as Todd McLellan's postgame press conference.

"We're just finding ways to win games," said Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who had two assists for his third straight multipoint game. "That's all that matters this time of the year. It doesn't matter how it looks or how it happens."

"Any time you can come into someone's building and get the jump on them, I think it's huge," McDavid added. "I thought they had a great first period. We didn't deserve to be up two but held on."

Here's the thing: If you don't think you deserve to be up two, and you're up two, the team you're playing must be horrible. That, in fact, is what the Kings are. They are horrible. It's remarkable that they even made the playoffs to begin with. It's also incredible that they might be even worse defensively if Drew Doughty was in the lineup. But what more can you even talk about if you're getting blasted 8-2?

"That's a big slap in the face tonight, and we got to regroup," Kings forward Phillip Danault said. "Luckily, it's only 2-1 in the series, so we got to regroup and step up next game."

"We got to have more confidence," Danault added. "We're a good team. We're not in the playoffs for no reason. We also have to learn. We have to play better under pressure, you know. Tape-to-tape execution's got to be better, but every area has got to be better. Defensively as well. Neutral zone, O-zone, everywhere."

Personal thoughts aside, Evander Kane getting a hat trick is so annoying but good to see if you're an Oilers fan. Secondary scoring has been a plague for Edmonton for years. They're getting it done now and that might be interesting for the rest of the way.

"I think our 5-on-5 game has gotten a lot better," Kane said. "Obviously, our special teams have been good throughout these three games. I think it's that time of year where you want to raise your game to a different level, and I think there's a lot of guys doing that right now."

Prediction


Nothing left to say. Give me the Oilers. It'll be another rout and we'll all get a good nap in. Oilers win 6-1

Betting trends


Check back later for trends.

Projected lines


Oilers:

Evander Kane -- Connor McDavid -- Jesse Puljujarvi

Zach Hyman -- Leon Draisaitl -- Kailer Yamamoto

Warren Foegele -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Derek Ryan

Derick Brassard -- Ryan McLeod -- Zack Kassian

Brett Kulak -- Cody Ceci

Duncan Keith -- Evan Bouchard

Philip Broberg -- Tyson Barrie

Mike Smith

Kings:

Andreas Athanasiou -- Anze Kopitar -- Adrian Kempe

Trevor Moore -- Phillip Danault -- Viktor Arvidsson

Alex Iafallo -- Blake Lizotte -- Dustin Brown

Carl Grundstrom -- Quinton Byfield -- Arthur Kaliyev

Alexander Edler -- Matt Roy

Jacob Moverare -- Sean Durzi

Olli Maatta -- Jordan Spence

Jonathan Quick

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Edmonton Oilers - Los Angeles Kings prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NHL projections and previews.

Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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