The playoffs are almost upon us, and as of today there are two matchups confirmed (with home ice TBD). Edmonton Oilers & Los Angeles Kings should be a good matchup. But who has the edge?
Analytically, this matchup is closer than it may appear. Obviously, Connor McDavid is a massive difference maker, but playoff series seldom get decided by one player. So it is important to understand each team's style & how it matches up against the other's.
-
These two dumbed-down graphics show each team's rank in key areas. Off rip, Edmonton looks to be the better team. However, if LA is able to muddy up the neutral zone & slow EDM's fast offense the Oilers will have trouble. Also, consider that LA is comfortably in the playoffs with league-worst finishing. Can Edmonton compensate if LA finishes at a higher rate?
The biggest variable for Edmonton is 5v5 production; there is no question they can score on the powerplay, but they need their big guns to dominate all areas of the game, which can prove tricky against a well-structured LA team. The Kings must stay out of the box if they are going to stand a chance.
Ultimately Edmonton gets a slight edge, but this is going to be a good series.
Who do you think will win?
