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
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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
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