The Edmonton Oilers will kick off the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs with Game 1 of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night at the Crytpo.com Arena. The Oilers and Kings will meet in the first round for the fourth year in a row. But this time around, things could be a little different.
Last season, the Oilers bounced the Kings in five games. The juggernaut offensive machine in Edmonton bulldozed the Kings on their way to the Stanley Cup Final. This season, however, if the regular season series is any indication, the outcome could be different.
So, let’s take a deep dive into the first-round series between the Edmonton Oilers and LA Kings.
Oilers vs Kings: First-round series preview 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs
Overview
The Edmonton Oilers hobbled (literally) across the finish line at the end of the regular season. The ludicrous number of injuries made it challenging for the Oilers to ice their full lineup. As such, the Kings blanked a depleted Oilers squad in their final meeting of the season on April 14.
But things look to be different as the Oilers will likely have their full lineup on the ice for Game 1 on Monday night. While Mattias Ekholm is still on the shelf, everyone else looks good enough to go.
In particular, Edmonton will get a huge boost with Leon Draisaitl returning to the lineup. That situation means that the Oilers’ two-headed Hydra monster will torment the Kings. Draisaitl is fresh off claiming his first career Rocket Richard Trophy, while Connor McDavid crossed the 100-point barrier yet again, despite missing a good chunk of the season.
While the Kings won the season series 3-1, including back-to-back blankings in April, again, those games should be taken with a grain of salt. The Kings faced a devastated Oilers lineup that lacked much of its offensive power.
That won’t be the case for the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Kings will have to contend with the full force of the Oilers' vaunted attack. That’s something that could be too much for a Kings team that hasn’t beaten the Oilers in the playoffs since 1989.
Oilers strengths and weaknesses in first round of Stanley Cup playoffs
The most evident strength is the Oilers’ offense. A healthy McDavid and Draisaitl, or at least as close to full strength as possible, are far more effective than any player on the Kings. Los Angeles cannot hope to contend pound-for-pound against McDavid, Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and hopefully Evander Kane, Viktor Arvidsson, and of late, Jeff Skinner.
I’d say to keep an eye on Skinner. He really seemed to turn a corner late in the season. It seems like he finally got comfortable and started spreading his wings. My contention is he dealt with an injury all season long. I can’t prove it, but judging from his play down the final three weeks of the season, that could have been the case.
Regardless, Skinner could be a wild card for the Oilers in this first-round series. The same goes for Kane. If he does suit up, he could quickly become a thorn in the Kings’ side. Having to deal with the skill and physicality that a healthy Kane brings to the table is no easy task.
The biggest weakness for the Oilers is in the crease. Mainly, fans can’t be sure which Stuart Skinner will show up. Will it be the Skinner that can steal games? Or will it be the Skinner that lapses and seems lost on the ice at times?
Unfortunately for the Oilers, the team doesn’t have a defensive core that can rally around their goalie and minimize high-danger chances. If the Oilers’ defense can’t contain the Kings’ speed and strong forechecking, Skinner could be a busy goaltender. In which case, the team had better hope the real Stuart Skinner shows up.
Overall, the healthy Edmonton squad will be too much for the Kings. This series could look more like the December 28 game, a game the Kings won 4-3 in overtime. The back-to-back shutouts in April were nothing more than outliers given Edmonton’s depleted lineup.
The biggest question mark for Edmonton Oilers in Stanley Cup playoffs
The biggest question mark surrounding the Oilers is the team’s health. If the entire core can stay healthy, it will be tough for anyone to stop the Oilers. McDavid and Draisaitl are money in the bank. Everyone knows that.
But beyond Draisaitl and McDavid, the rest of the case will need to step up. Evan Bouchard needs to channel the play that made him such a destructive force last season. Similarly, depth players like Brett Kulak and Ty Emberson will play a crucial role.
Kane’s return will also be a huge boost if he can return to his previous skill level. As for Jake Walman, hopefully, he’ll be ready to fly. A healthy Walman will bolster the blue line, potentially buying enough time for Ekholm to return.
If Edmonton can avoid any catastrophic injuries during the postseason, this team has the power to get back to the Stanley Cup Final. Otherwise, the team’s depth will become its most pressing concern.
A healthy Oilers team should send the Kings packing once again. But it remains to be seen if this is the Kings’ year, at last.
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