With the Edmonton Oilers destined to face off against the Los Angeles Kings yet again, and with two regular season games against each other in April prior, the two sides will be writing new chapters in their shared history. Three times the Oilers have prevailed, but the truth that no game can be taken for granted must be deeply understood.
Before tempers and nerves take hold, let’s take some time to reflect and project the battles ahead in depth, starting with a focus on the Kings line matching.
Home ice for the Oilers still within reach
With seeding very much in play, still it is impossible to ignore the Kings league-leading home record. Clearly home ice advantage will play a huge role in the series, in large part to how the Kings rely on tight line matchups. Needless to say there will be fireworks between the two down the stretch of the regular season, a preamble to the fated opponents.
The Oilers were able to win all three games the teams played in Los Angeles last playoffs, though the six game series had some tense moments. A large reason the Oilers were so effective was their incredible special teams performance, lighting up the Kings on the power play. The Kings rely on sound defence in all phases of the game to win, a system that plays to the team’s strengths.
Kings chock-full of Selke centres
The Kings boast what might be the best defensive centre trio in the league, starting with some classic Selke Trophy candidates in Anze Kopitar and Phillip Danault. Danault is often used as the foremost checking centre, tasked with the hardest matchups. Trevor Moore and Warren Foegele flank Danault for a hard working, dastardly defensive line. They thrive in simple, heavy hockey and will look to neutralize and frustrate their opponents.
While Kopitar’s game is not what it once was, he often saves his best for the playoffs. Still effective at both ends, Kopitar has the quality to handle top minutes. Scoring winger Adrian Kempe brings speed, the two having built some chemistry over the years. For now the mercurial Andrei Kuzmenko has found new life on their flank, where he will have to be at his best. Kopitar is handling less responsibilities than in seasons past, including less penalty kill time.
Finally, Quinton Byfield has moved to the middle and taken charge of his own line. While Kevin Fiala offers legitimate offensive support, Byfield has taken on as much defensive responsibility. It is Byfield centring the second penalty kill unit behind Danault, and taking on second power play duties behind Kopitar. At some point he will be ready to take the top power play spot, which will undoubtedly help his offensive totals. For now, he is skilled enough to overpower and exploit weaker matchups if an opponent has a weaker third line.
Combined with the team’s trademark defensive systems, the Kings path to victory resides in a low scoring series. The Kings will look to frustrate and outlast the Oilers, and dictating the matchups will be of great help to them.
Counterattacks from the Oilers
The Oilers are equipped with possible solutions to the Kings tactics. For one, the question of separating Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will remain ever relevant. Splitting them means that the Kings might have to decide which task to give Danault, which could be useful on the road. Meanwhile, if Danault is dominant, the Oilers could load up at home to get both superstars away from him altogether.
Moreover, the third and fourth line centres will be questions for the Oilers as well. Having Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on a third line offers a different look than an Adam Henrique checking line might. On the road, this line might have to go up against the Kopitar or Byfield line. Again, Byfield is still coming into this own, and a breakout party would be awful news for the Oilers.
Having the depth to roll four lines could be an interesting angle as well, as the Kings do not have the depth to match up with the Oilers best possible fourth line with Henrique. The Kings will be set on stopping McDavid and Draisaitl, a tall task. Even if successful, the Oilers using their depth to their advantage could force the Kings into situational disadvantages.
Lessons from the past
While this matchup has given the Oilers some trouble in the past, they have always found a way to get the job done. Unfortunately for the Kings, McDavid and Draisaitl seem to elevate their games in the playoffs. Kopitar and Danault have hardly handled the matchups in the grand scheme of things, and are not getting any younger.
The Oilers have enjoyed standout performances in series past, including scoring sprees from Zach Hyman and Evander Kane. The Kings have more often been overmatched despite their strong line matching efforts. To break the vaunted Kings neutral zone trap a team needs skill and execution. The Oilers, for their faults, have more than enough skill to make intentional plays at high quality. It most definitely will not be easy, and will likely involve lots of nastiness, but the Oilers have what it takes to best the Kings regardless of who has home ice.
