Oilers and Kings could meet in first round of NHL playoffs for fifth year in a row |
The Edmonton Oilers’ first-round opponent will either be Colorado, Anaheim, or, for a fifth consecutive season, the Los Angeles Kings.
What’s odd about this potential matchup is that despite the Oilers winning the previous four meetings, there isn’t much hatred between the two teams. The Kings haven’t shown much anger or frustration in the regular season and gone after the Oilers, and that’s likely why a fifth potential meeting isn’t that exciting for Oilersnation. There isn’t any animosity.
What has to happen to determine who the Oilers play?
Vegas needs one point in their game tonight against Seattle to finish first. They will finish either first or second.
The Oilers need one point to secure second place, and if Vegas loses in regulation, the Oilers will win the division if they defeat Vancouver on Thursday.
If the Oilers lose in regulation and both Anaheim and LA win, then the Oilers finish fourth and will play Colorado.
If the Oilers gain one point and Anaheim wins, they play the Ducks.
The Oilers will play L.A. if Edmonton gains one point, the Kings win and the Ducks lose. If L.A. loses in regulation, they are automatically fourth.
Anaheim plays in Nashville while L.A. is in Calgary. The Ducks’ game will be over before the Oilers and Kings start the third period of their games. They will know what happened in Nashville and how that impacts their playoff standings.
I believe Anaheim would be the most favourable first-round matchup for Edmonton. The Ducks are 1-6-2 in their last nine games. They lost 3-2 in Minnesota last night, and the Wild rested forwards Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, Marcus Foligno,........