2024-25 PO Thread

[PuckinUgly57]

All things POs, Kings or not for general information. I'll still be doing individual GDTs for the Kings as they move along the series. I'll kick it off, Kings Oilers preview from TA.

They spend way too much time on some thing and a blurb about goaltending which I find odd since that has been a strength for LA this season and a clear advantage over Skinner if Kuemper holds to form. The funny thing is they STILL think the Oilers will win this series even though all the advantages favor LA. The Oiler homerism is real.

Any other series you guys want to know about, let me know and I'll post it.

2025 NHL playoff preview: Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers​

By Dom Luszczyszyn, Sean Gentille and Shayna Goldman

When the NHL moved to a divisional playoff in 2014, the main hook was leaning into regional rivalries by forcing repeat series within the bounds of the playoff structure. It’s a fine idea in theory and it’s led to a lot of marquee matchups. It may often seem unjust due to division discrepancies, but it’s also given us some entertaining hockey. That’s a win.

​

In each of the last three meetings between these two teams, the Oilers were heavy favorites, around 70 percent, winning each series in progressively fewer games. Over the last three playoffs, the gap between the Oilers and Kings seemed to grow even larger.​

That’s changed this season. If ever there was a chance for the Kings to slay the dragon, this is it. The series is a dead heat, with the Kings holding a slight 50.2 percent edge.

Home ice plays a role here, as does Mattias Ekholm’s injury. With the Oilers at home and Ekholm in the lineup, they’d be right around 60 percent — much closer to the usual ballpark.

Closer, but not nearly as high. That’s because the Kings are better than the version the Oilers played a year ago. And the Oilers are also definitely worse.

The numbers​

The story is the same between the Kings and Oilers. It’s a matchup between a defensive powerhouse and an elite offensive squad.

The Oilers’ plus-33 Offensive Rating ranks second among playoff teams; Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard have a lot to do with that, as does Edmonton’s five-on-five play.

These two teams are neck-and-neck in expected goal share, ranking third and fourth in the league — their processes to get there are just different. The two are pretty even in the shot department; quality is where they separate. Edmonton is a more dangerous offensive team, with the second-highest expected goal creation of 2.88 per 60. The scoresheet doesn’t always reflect it, though, as the team has shot below 8 percent. The lack of tangible finishing ability is a big concern for the Oilers this time and is partly why their Offensive Rating has dropped precipitously compared to last season. It’s why this series is close.

The Kings, on the other hand, have the results to show for it — especially on home ice. While L.A. has outscored opponents 100-48 at home, its scoring isn’t as potent on the road. The real strength of this team is on the other end of the ice. The Kings are extremely stingy, with a league-low 2.13 xGA/60. Can they maintain that against the Oilers? Or will holes in Edmonton’s defensive coverage give a team like the Kings a chance to shine offensively?

Those same questions extend to special teams situations. The Kings suppress more chances and goals, but the Oilers have more weapons on the power play. A scoring rate of 9.07 GF/60 is low by their standards, but it beats the Kings’ bottom-10 rate of 6.3.

---

The big question​

Can Quinton Byfield go toe-to-toe with the best in the world?

Quiton Byfield’s season — and really his last two — should serve as a reminder that progress isn’t always linear.

The No. 2 pick in 2020, Byfield spent his first three professional seasons making incremental gains but never quite breaking through. Each year, he spent a little more time in the NHL. Each year, he produced a little more.

In 2023-24, after shifting to the wing for his 21-year-old season, he popped, putting up 55 points and producing more efficiently than players like Jack Hughes, Nick Suzuki and Bo Horvat. Playing nearly all his minutes at left wing on a line with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe, he also increased his offensive impacts overall, helping the Kings generate plenty of shots and chances and showing signs of a more fully rounded game.

That gave the Kings even more cover to ship out Pierre-Luc Dubois after a single, disastrous season in Los Angeles and move Byfield back to center on a full-time basis. The pump seemed primed for a second consecutive level-up season. Initial returns, though, weren’t great; Byfield had three goals and eight assists in his first 29 games. The Kings were winning his minutes, though, and he was on an unlucky streak — in that span, he was third on the team with 8.24 expected goals.

From mid-December to March 3, the shots began to fall, and he began to dial up his production; in those 30 mid-season games, he led Los Angeles in points (31), expected goals percentage (58.5) and goals percentage (67.6).

On March 5, though, he started a six-game goal streak — and a run of high-end production that lasted through the end of the regular season. In that span, he scored as many goals as Alex Ovechkin (14) and more than anyone in the NHL outside of John Tavares, Tage Thompson and Sidney Crosby. His underlying numbers at five-on-five have held steady, too; the Kings continue to decisively win his minutes.

The combination of Byfield between Kevin Fiala and Alex Laferriere has been one of the NHL’s best, with the Kings outscoring opponents 20-6 while they’re on the ice. Of the 79 line combos to play at least 200 minutes together in 2024-25, only Nathan MacKinnon between Martin Necas and Artturi Lehkonen had a higher goal percentage.

Fiala deserves some credit there; he’s been one of the league’s top playmaking wingers for several seasons, and 2024-25 has been no different. Still, what Byfield has done over the last month once again suggests he’s growing into the player the Kings always believed he’d be — and the player they need, if one of the NHL’s highest-profile streaks of futility is ever going to end.

Their best shot at overcoming Edmonton’s elite talent is to cultivate some of their own. Nobody is closer to fitting the bill than Byfield.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

The X-factor​

Can Darnell Nurse step up in Mattias Ekholm’s absence?

Ekholm’s injury, which will keep him out for the first round and perhaps beyond, is bad news for the Oilers. There’s no sense in pretending otherwise; he’s second among Edmonton’s defensemen in Net Rating, behind only Bouchard, and leads the group with a Defensive Rating of 1.9 despite playing against top competition. That’s quite a lot to lose.

It’ll fall on the rest of the Oilers’ blue line to make up the difference — and nobody more than Nurse, who’s rebounded from a disastrous 2024 postseason to show he’s capable of doing just that. Since Ekholm’s injury issue cropped up in early March (he’s played in seven of 21 games since March 1), Edmonton has put up an expected goal share of nearly 61 percent in Nurse’s minutes. He’s first among their defensemen in on-ice expected goals/60 (3.33) and second only to Ekholm in expected goals against/60 (2.12).

Playing Nurse with Bouchard and Jake Walman leads to higher-event hockey on both sides; playing him with Troy Stecher and Brett Kulak slows things down. In that regard, Edmonton has a choice to make with Nurse, but his overall results are strong post-March 1, regardless of his partner.



By Net Rating, the best player in the world is McDavid (duh). Draisaitl, after the MVP-worthy season he’s had, is second. That one-two punch is hockey’s biggest advantage and the reason the Oilers are an annual contender. McDavid and Draisaitl are a force that’s difficult to stop, and these Kings know that firsthand.

Over the last three playoffs, McDavid has 36 points in 18 playoff games against the Kings while Draisaitl has 17 goals and 30 points. Despite being one of the league’s best defensive teams during that time, Edmonton’s dynamic duo still put up video game numbers against the Kings. Whether at five-on-five or on the power play, it didn’t seem to matter — McDavid and Draisaitl had their number.

Can that change this season? The Kings certainly have the personnel for it with three elite defensive centers and three elite defense defenders — we just need to see it actually happen first.

What works in Los Angeles’ favor is that the team’s defensive core has taken things up a notch this season. Mikey Anderson and Vladislav Gavrikov are now rated as two of the best defensive defensemen in hockey due to significant improvements in their defensive numbers. Anderson’s xGA/60 has gone from 2.21 last year to 1.97 this year, and the Kings allow just 1.39 GA/60 with him on the ice. Gavrikov’s jump has been even larger. Add Drew Doughty’s continued defensive excellence to that and the Kings have a three-headed monster that looks scarier than ever.

The same applies to their center core, though not to the same magnitude. With Byfield’s maturation in particular, the Kings look well-poised to stop anyone. Their first challenge, though, is the two guys they’ve failed to slow down for three straight seasons.

The path to victory for the Kings starts and ends there, because they have the edge otherwise. After Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — two usually strong forwards who have not lived up to expectations this season for Edmonton — the Kings’ depth shines in comparison. Kempe and Fiala are quality scorers, Warren Foegele has been a revelation and Laferriere and Trevor Moore have scored at 20-goal paces.



That’s firepower that the Oilers can’t compete with down the lineup. With Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner not working out as expected, there’s a massive drop-off in offensive talent after Nugent-Hopkins. And that’s saying a lot, considering Nugent-Hopkins has only scored at a 52-point pace this season.

Suffice to say, this isn’t the same explosive Oilers team we’re used to, and they’ll have it extra tough against this version of the Kings. If Los Angeles can slow down McDavid and Draisaitl even a little bit, the Kings’ depth advantage should be able to take care of the rest. In past years, when the Oilers were deeper, that equation wasn’t as simple, and the Oilers were heavy favorites for good reason. They were a team to fear even beyond their big two. That’s not the case this season.

The equalizer for the Oilers is their defense group, even without Ekholm. While the Kings’ big three on defense are all defensively elite, none of them can dependably drive offense. They lack the dynamic puck-moving instinct necessary to be offensive assets, and it’s the main reason the Kings aren’t an offensively gifted team despite their depth up front. Not trusting Brandt Clarke to play in the top four (for good reason, given his defensive inefficiencies) is part of that. That’s not the case for the Oilers, who have Bouchard, Nurse and Walman — a potent offensive trifecta that doesn’t sacrifice much defense to get there. No team creates more offense from the back end than the Oilers.

As poor as Edmonton’s forward group is, having a mobile defense puts them in more advantageous situations more often. For the team’s stars, it’s rocket fuel. Bouchard is the leader of that as one of the game’s very best offensive defensemen, though we’ll see how he fares without Ekholm by his side in a playoff setting. That’ll be a big defensive challenge for him, and while the model believes he’s equipped for that, a real-life pressure cooker could prove otherwise. For a defenseman so prone to making The Big Mistake, the first round will be a huge test.

The last piece of the puzzle is in net. In previous seasons, the Kings’ netminding situation looked just as much of an afterthought as the Oilers. This year, the way Darcy Kuemper has played down the stretch, it’s a real advantage. Kuemper has bounced back toward Vezina Trophy-caliber play, creating a healthy chasm between him and Stuart Skinner, his counterpart in Edmonton. The two have both played 50 or so games this year, and Kuemper has saved 24 more goals above expected in that time.

This matchup always comes down to McDavid and Draisaitl, but they weren’t the only reason for the Oilers’ success against Los Angeles. Edmonton’s depth was strong enough to leave the team’s star power as an overwhelming advantage. That’s not the case this time around.

The Oilers may have the three best players in this matchup, but that alone might not be enough. Thanks to Los Angeles’ depth advantage making up much of the gap, these rosters are much closer than usual.

The key matchup​

Phillip Danault vs. Leon Draisaitl

With any Kings-Oilers matchup, the question is whether L.A.’s shutdown talent can contain the Oilers’ best. This year, that conversation starts with Draisaitl, who has been a force in all three zones.

On paper, the Kings have two advantages: home ice to drive the matchups and three shutdown options. But this could easily become a headache for them if things go south in Game 1. Danault likely opens the series in this matchup; he went head-to-head with Draisaitl at home earlier this season and has shouldered the toughest assignments since the 4 Nations Face-Off.

But if the coaches start swapping out centers for Game 2, it means things didn’t go according to plan with the first option, which is a sign of early trouble. That was the case last spring when the series shifted to L.A. — after a 6-1 loss in Game 3, McDavid matchups shifted from Danault to Kopitar.

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The bottom line​

If the Kings are going to pull this off, the time is now. Their depth and all-around game are stronger than ever, and the Oilers are limping into the postseason. Ultimately, though, it’s impossible to pick against McDavid and Draisaitl. Too much talent on one end and too much baggage on the other.

 

[davnlaguna]

Odds makers favor Oilers, which means the majority of people are betting for the Kings to lose again.

 

[Kings4OT]

Odds makers favor Oilers, which means the majority of people are betting for the Kings to lose again.

Until they show they can win a playoff series vs the Oil, your best bet to keep your cash is to bet that way. Ive said for a while now this is LAs best chance to get by them, but even at that I think its 50/50. Need to stay out of the box with all the stupid penalties that Oilers goade the Kings into taking. Whats even more frustratingly asinine is the Kings will take a bunch of stupid penalties but when they really need to thump on an Oiler or stand up for a team mate they just mouse away and then just extra face wash a guy or something to draw another stupid roughing penalty...fucking earn that penalty and make those Oilers pay for it.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Until they show they can win a playoff series vs the Oil, your best bet to keep your cash is to bet that way. Ive said for a while now this is LAs best chance to get by them, but even at that I think its 50/50. Need to stay out of the box with all the stupid penalties that Oilers goade the Kings into taking. Whats even more frustratingly asinine is the Kings will take a bunch of stupid penalties but when they really need to thump on an Oiler or stand up for a team mate they just mouse away and then just extra face wash a guy or something to draw another stupid roughing penalty...fucking earn that penalty and make those Oilers pay for it.

Read in several places, non Kings fans, they were surprised there was not immediate retaliation for the crosscheck on Buster. I said it immediately, Mallott or Helenius should have been dropping bodies even on their B team or roughing up whoever was out there since Nurse was immediately ejected.

Others saying the Kings are holding that in their back pocket and will retaliate during the playoffs. We will see but I'm sick of the Kings' good guy hockey mantra, if that's TO, Philadelphia, Tampa, etc the whole team rallies and starts stirring the pot. If the Kings had a Matt Greene again someone would have been punched in the face stat.

It's about message sending, the Oilers sent theirs - send some back.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

This is a big part of the narrative. When Nurse smashes Byfield's head into the ice, you can see Fiala with the "Hey, man, NOT cool" look, but nothing was done. Even Hiller this week when asked about Byfield said that he's skating and they just want to move forward. I guess the hope is that LA just wants to focus on beating them on the scoreboard. But you can see Perry, Nurse, and now potentially Evander Kane just waiting to immediately derail whatever the Kings think they have going on. I haven't heard anything on Jeanot, so assumption is he won't be ready. I actually still don't entirely know what even happened to him.

Everyone knows it, but Edmonton is just looking to steal Game 1 or 2, take home ice away, and put all the pressure on the Kings to go win on the road.

Kings advantages I do think are that Edmonton doesn't have Ekholm, and they are not confident in either of their goalies right now. Other than that, I still think this Edmonton team is not that far off from what we've seen in this past. Kuemper does feel like a way more solid option than the last few years. I thought Jonas Korpisalo was going make such a difference, but once Edmonton figured out his glove hand was weak, it was over. I am hoping the Kings can keep EDM under the normal 48% PP scoring rate they've been running for 3 straight years now, and hoping Kings can offset some of that with a slightly more dangerous PP they've shown lately. Just insane special teams numbers that we reiterate every year, but it's front and center again, and it's a major factor again.

Kings depth up front also needs to shine when playing the lower lines. I like Fogoele as an addition this year, and he seems extra motivated playing his old team. Laferriere and Byfield are contributors now, but they need to be factors in this series. Fiala, man. He's been on a tear lately, and just set his personal best for goals in a season. Just has a big reputation for disappearing in the playoffs and big games, so I am really looking to keep an eye on him. Would like him to keep his game much simpler out the gate and not overthink things. Hoping that Kempe-Kopitar-Kuzmenko line can continue to get after it. Kuzemenko has actually been pretty quiet the last few games, but LA has also been running weird lineups. Essentially, if EDM attacks attacks attacks like they want to, it'll take all the pressure off their depleted defense, and it'll be tough. But if LA can really forecheck well, and pressure their D, it might be okay. Draisaitl is so good, but he does not even look to play defense. If you can get these guys to defend, that's your best bet.

Any shortcomings from the Fiala-Byfield-Laferriere line will be tough to overcome, short of the Danault-Moore line picking up the slack. Those two guys had special chemistry the first EDM-LA series, and were arguable their best line. Since then, I haven't really seen it. Would be nice if they got a little hot again. Especially with these goalies EDM is running, I would just throw everything at the net.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

My picks for everywhere else:

Knights over Wild - Wild too beat up still I think. Wild are a team to watch next year when they get all their Parise/Suter money off the books. But not this year is my bet.

Jets over Blues - I feel like people are really dismissing St. Louis, but they've slowed down without Holloway in the lineup. Winnipeg also missing Vilardi, and I still have never seen Hellebuyck win a big game. I am close to talking myself into picking the Blues, but Jets probably get this done.

Avs over Stars - Avs are just the favorite in the west until I see otherwise. Dallas absolutely limping into the playoffs and probably got Robertson hurt in the final regular season game. Heard Miro Heiskanen might not even be ready to go either. If Oettinger can regain his elite form, that could be a difference, but Avs seem like the team to beat.

Kings - Oilers - No Comment. Kings either win this series, or probably blow this whole thing up.

Capitals over Habs - Game 3 should be fun, just like in Ottawa, but that should be it.

Leafs over Sens - Leafs need to dominate this series in 4 or 5. Game 3 for Montreal and Ottawa will be so fun, but that should be about it.

Canes over Devils - I feel like both of these teams are just limping around.

Lightning over Panthers - Panthers just so injured.

 

[davnlaguna]

All I want is kings wins
And Canada losses.
It’s been 30+ years since a team from Canada has won the cup. I don’t think they break that streak this year.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

All I want is kings wins
And Canada losses.
It’s been 30+ years since a team from Canada has won the cup. I don’t think they break that streak this year.

Same, but in that order. Some decent teams in there though, and actually have 5 of the 16 playoff teams.

Toronto and Winnipeg won their divisions, so they have a chance. I'd pick bad luck Toronto over Winnipeg. Edmonton just went to the finals, but it's hard to argue they're as good as last year. Ottawa and Montreal happy to be in the playoffs i think. Could upset someone, but they're not built to make any runs.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

L.A. in a Minute on Instagram: "NHL Hall of Famer and Kings President Luc Robitaille thinks the @lakings have a great shot to win the Stanley Cup this year. Here’s why I sit down for an excellent one on one as we go deep into his background, first im

797 likes, 25 comments - lainaminute on April 18, 2025: "NHL Hall of Famer and Kings President Luc Robitaille thinks the @lakings have a great shot to win the Stanley Cup this year. Here’s why I sit down for an excellent one on one as we go deep into his background, first impression of Los...

www.instagram.com

Start planning the parade! Just kidding. But Luc saying it's gonna happen

 

[PuckinUgly57]

TA on why you should become a bandwagon fan of a team. Down Goes Brown is their satire guy:

9. Los Angeles Kings

Why you should get on board: Do you enjoy the comforting familiarity of seeing the same thing over and over again? Welcome to the L.A. Kings’ first-round playoff experience.

Also, Quinton Byfield has apparently decided to start semi-regularly doing stuff like this (his holding the stick goal link).

Why you shouldn’t: There’s a good chance they lose to the Oilers for the fourth year in a row, although home-ice advantage might tip the scales this time around. Just be aware they’re one of the lowest-scoring playoff teams and they give up fewer goals than anyone but the Jets, so they’re not exactly the most exciting team you could sign up for.

Bottom line: Honestly, if you’re starting to feel some of that anti-Oiler energy that’s percolating out there, the Kings make for an interesting pick that could pay off early. Just know that they’re a long shot to go deep.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Another preview, Sportsnet:

How Oilers, Kings stack up in yet another first-round playoff series

For the fourth straight year, the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings are set to meet in a first-round playoff series. Sportsnet's Adam Vingan breaks down the latest battle between the Pacific Division rivals.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[Kings4OT]

Knights v Wild - Knights in 6. I like what the Wild has done when healthy, but Vegas is a T5 team in the NHL.

Jets v Blues - Jets in 5. This one is wishful thinking because I think LA can easily take the Jets so I want them to stick around as they can beat teams I dont think LA can.

Avs v Stars - Avs in 6. Avs the cream of the crop right now, Stars playing way bad and missing some key players.

Kings v Oilers - Kings in 5. If LA keeps it 5 v 5 with more 5 v 4 than the Oil they can win. 4 v 4 and 4 v 5 Kings lose. McJesus and Dirty-dri are the series, Kings stop those 2 Oilers fold easy.

Capitals v Habs - Caps in 6. Caps will slow down after the Gr8 Chase, but not this round.

Leafs v Sens - Leafs in 5, would love to see Brady thump the Leasts, hearing the lamentation of the leaf fans would be EPIC. I dont think Stutzle can get more than a few points, hope im wrong.

Canes v Devils - Canes in 7. Canes should be a lock but floundaring and poor G play, plus if you have Burns and Hall, your not serious about winning.

Lightning v Panthers - TB in 6. If guys can play and not be injured I would change this, but I dont think its the stupid they are hurt wink wink and mystically fine. If those guys are in, they playing hurt.

 

[Kings4OT]

Former Kngs getting it done, name plate and Iafallo so far

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

I got a random Iafallo story. My mom's favorite player because he's good looking, so I got her and Iafallo jersey. Kings Xmas party probably 2016 or 2018 (somewhere in there), they let you meet players. I get my mom the jersey and get her a ticket to meet his panel. He's not marquee, so he's on a panel with like 3 other dudes. My mom is the only one who has his jersey, probably ever. He says as much. I wasn't there l, but my mom mentions it. But she's Afraid to jack up the numbering, so she has him sign the sleeve in this weird spot. And that's the whole story. Mom has this weird autograph in a weird spot for no reason. So seeing him draw a penalty and score game tying goal for Winnipeg, I had to text her.