WCQF: Edmonton Oilers (PAC 2) vs LA Kings (PAC 3) (Oilers win 4-1)

[Roof-Daddy]

Awesome, probably the easiest 1st round match up possible for the oilers.

[Paulie Walnuts]

wtf Vegas.

The Kings are one of the worst playoff teams, they belong in the east. Ugh.

Kings in 6

[Erick Estrada]

Oilers should cruise here as the Kings haven't really turned the corner over the last three seasons as they just kind of keep finishing 3rd in the division facing an Oilers team that simply isn't a good match for them. I would expect to see both Talbot and Rittich in this series which is probably a bad sign for the Kings. Oilers should win in 5 or 6 games.

[Toonage]

I would argue the Kings are in some important ways a worse team than years past. Hate to say it, but the Oilers in 5

[dirk diggler]

I am sure that PLD will really amp it up at playoff time lol, the kings are frauds. Oilers get an easy 1st round matchup

[Cecil Terwilliger]

A 1-3-1 might be just the thing to stifle the oilers offensive and frustrate mcdavid and pissy.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Interestingly, this is a matchup of the two teams that somehow still made the playoffs after firing their head coach mid-season. Can't remember the last time that happened.

Sure, on paper the Oilers are a much better team, but they are a shoddy goaltending performance or a defensive lapse away from collapsing. They don't play a particularly tough playoff style game, they don't defend or check that well, and they live off the powerplay. They're a classic example of a good regular season team that doesn't see their style of play translate to the playoffs.

The Kings aren't that talented in comparison, and I'm not sure they take the series, but their style of play and personnel are far more suited for the playoffs. They were pretty great to start the year. If they can find that type of game again, I think this goes the distance.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Unfortunately Oilers in 5

[Tbull8]

Hoping this is the arrival of a dominant PLD or Byfield. I don’t have much faith but I’ll be cheering for the Kings the whole way

I don’t like the goaltending but the 1-3-1 could slow down the oilers enough to let the kings stay in the games. Danault matching up against McDavid is going to be the key imo

[scotty2hotty]

Kings in 3

[SuperMatt18]

Oilers should win this handedly.

But honesty it's always interesting when a team plays another team consistently in the playoffs.

They lost in 7 in 2022, and then in 6 last year. Do Oilers maybe take the Kings lightly and Kings have a bit of extra motivation to avoid the same fate for the third straight season... it's possible.

[kyuss275]

Makes me sick to my stomach to write this, but Oil in 5. They won’t be so lucky in second round.

[Major Major]

Vegas was exactly what the Oilers needed. A demon to slay that they can use to build momentum.

The Kings are poison for them. A team they can look past that everyone is expecting them to mop. We all know how complacent that leadership group gets.

Reminds me of Winnipeg 2021.

[Incogneto]

I heard the Oilers lobbied for a Monday start with their heavy schedule at the end and got it.

Crybabies. E=NG

[stang]

Oh boy, I didn't want this match, I wish it would have been Vegas. I hope the Oilers don't think they can sleep walk through this series. Would have MUCH rather got Vegas.

Oilers in 6. Cautiously optimistic.

[flamingred89]

Kings took em to game 7 2 years ago and were a period away from beating them. Last year the Kings had a 3-0 lead in game 4 that would've put the series 3-1 in their favour. But the most egregious display of biased reffing willed the Oilers back into that one. Some bad breaks or the Oilers recent playoff "success" would be nothing but a fever dream. I hope the hockey gods even the breaks and the Kings can get over the hump.

Kings in 6

[musth]

damn it Vegas, you had one job.


Kings in 6

[The Yen Man]

Had way more confidence in Vegas than I did in the Kings, but of course, Vegas craps the bed yesterday. I'm hoping LA in 4 or 5, but realistically, it's probably Oilers cruising into second round unfortunately.

[the-rasta-masta]

It boggles my mind that Zach Hyman had more goals this season than Iggy ever hit. Doesn't seem fair!

[JD]

And there it is, the arrogance of Oiler fans thinking the Stanley Cup champs would have been a better draw. Haha.

The Oilers should win this easily, but if we're going to grasp at straws for optimism:
- Shawn Durzi is no longer a King. Oilers used to clown that guy in playoffs.
- Quentin Byfield is on the verge of superstardom. Hopefully this is his coming out party.
- Kings are healthy after a lot of injuries this year.
- Drew Doughty is playing as well as he's ever played this season.
- Despite the history of Talbot and Rittich, I'd say they're both playing great hockey this year and the numbers bear that out.
- The Kings suffocating style is terrible to watch and it could just be the frustration tonic needed to stifle the Grease.
- The Oilers power play isn't all-world this year. Still dangerous, but not as automatic.

Not expecting a Kings win, but sure hoping for it.