NHL Hockey: Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings – Kings Favored
Team Page: Edmonton :: Los Angeles
66% of Bets Placed on Edmonton +130 | Matchup | Goalies
A long losing streak has virtually ended any chance the Edmonton Oilers had of repeating as Western Conference champions. The Los Angeles Kings’ latest skid, meanwhile, isn’t nearly as surprising.
The Oilers look to end a seven-game losing streak when they conclude their season series with the struggling Kings on Monday night.
Oddsmakers have made Los Angeles -150 money line (NHL Odds) favorites for todays game, the over/under has been set at 5.5 total
goals (View NHL Sports Books).
Edmonton (30-33-6) hasn’t earned a point since a 4-3 shootout win over Detroit on Feb. 23, and is quickly being buried in the West. With 66 points, the Oilers are closer to Los Angeles (22-34-13) and Phoenix – who are tied for last place in the West with 57 points – than to eighth-place Calgary (82 points).
Edmonton, which will be concluding a three-game California road trip Monday, has lost seven straight in regulation in a single season for the first time since dropping nine in a row from March 23-April 9, 1995. The Oilers have been outscored 27-5 and been shut out three times during their skid.
Regulars Petr Nedved (knee), Steve Staios (knee), Jarret Stoll (concussion), Ethan Moreau (shoulder) and Jan Hejda (shoulder) continue to nurse injuries. Edmonton played with 12 forwards and only five defensemen in a 3-0 loss at San Jose on Sunday night.
"It’s a frustrating exercise to try and win in a situation like this," Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said. "This is a tough game to win when you can’t score."
Edmonton got just one power-play opportunity against the Sharks, and is 0-for-18 with the man advantage during its losing streak.
Dwayne Roloson made 28 saves in the loss, which dropped him to 0-6-0 with a 3.38 goals-against average since Feb. 25. The netminder gave up six goals to the Kings in a 7-4 loss on Dec. 28.
Petr Sykora, who ranks third on Edmonton with 49 points, has been held off the scoresheet in eight straight games. He also has just one goal and no assists in his last six games against the Kings.
Los Angeles has lost five straight games, although the last three have come in overtime. The skid is the fourth of four or more games for the Kings this season.
Dustin Brown scored two goals on Sunday for Los Angeles. Brian Willsie added a goal and goaltender Sean Burke made 30 saves, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Dallas Stars in a 4-3 overtime defeat.
Kings coach Marc Crawford was satisfied with his team’s performance, despite the fact they’re out of the playoff chase in the West.
"We didn’t get what we deserved," Crawford said. "(The Stars) got some breaks. We forced them to play a game they didn’t want to play."
The Kings were without centers Derek Armstrong (knee) and Anze Kopitar (lower back). Their status for Monday’s game is uncertain.
Edmonton has its last two meetings against Los Angeles after dropping the opener in the season series. The Oilers have also won three of their last four visits to Staples Center.
by: Gary Roberts – theSpread.com – Email Us
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