Opinion
3 min read

Will the Edmonton Oilers Seize Victory at Crypto.com Arena Against the Los Angeles Kings?

As the Edmonton Oilers prepare to face off against the Los Angeles Kings, fans are eager to see if their team can maintain their recent offensive prowess. In their last encounter on April 23, the Oilers demonstrated a remarkable ability to capitalize on powerplay opportunities, scoring three goals from eleven shots. This impressive 16 percent shooting accuracy was a significant factor in their 7-4 victory over the Kings.


Dec 30, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) controls the puck against the Edmonton Oilers during the overtime period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Oilers' performance in even-strength situations was equally commendable, with four goals from thirty-four shots reflecting a solid game plan and execution. Their goaltending also stood out with an impeccable save percentage of 100 percent, denying all but four of thirty-seven shots by the Kings.


However, it's not just about offense for Edmonton. The team showed they could be defensively responsible as well, blocking twenty-three shots and winning fifty-six percent of faceoffs. These statistics underscored a well-rounded approach that could prove vital in upcoming games.


Dec 30, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (2) moves the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

On the other side of the ice stand the Los Angeles Kings who will be looking for redemption after their previous defeat. Despite losing to EDM earlier this month, LA's aggressive play yielded sixty-seven hits and they managed to block sixteen shots while maintaining an eleven percent shooting accuracy during even-strength play.


Yet one area where LA struggled was in powerplay situations; failing to score despite five attempts is something they'll undoubtedly aim to improve upon before facing EDM again.


Dec 30, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) defends the goal against Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (84) during the overtime period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Looking back at EDM's performance against other teams reveals some concerns that need addressing if they hope for continued success. A game against Colorado Avalanche on April 19 saw them suffer due to a minus-twenty plus-minus rating and only managing one goal from twenty-six shots – highlighting potential issues in converting chances into points.


Similarly, during an encounter with Arizona Coyotes on April 18th, despite winning more than sixty-two percent of faceoffs and delivering seventeen hits, EDM fell short due to lower shot efficiency compared with Arizona’s twenty-one percent shooting accuracy which led them towards victory.


With these lessons learned from past performances combined with strengths displayed against LA previously – particularly regarding special teams’ effectiveness – there is cautious optimism surrounding Edmonton Oilers as they gear up for another showdown at Crypto.com Arena.


Fans can catch this highly anticipated match-up live on Sunday night at 7:30 PM Pacific Time (PT). The game will be broadcasted across multiple networks including TBS, truTV SportsNet SN1 TVAS ensuring no one misses out on what promises to be an enthralling contest between two determined franchises.

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