Pacific Division competitors will make their 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs debut when the Los Angeles Kings host the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 on Monday. This marks the fourth consecutive year these familiar foes have faced each other in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. These teams finished second and third respectfully in the division standings, and each won four of their last five regular-season games. The Kings took three out of four against the Oilers this season, most recently shutting them out 5-0 in Edmonton.
Puck drop from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles is set for 10 p.m. ET. Los Angeles is a -127 favorite on the money line (risk $127 to win $100) in the latest Kings vs. Oilers odds, while Edmonton is the +107 underdog (risk $100 to win $107). The over/under for total goals scored is 5.5, and the Kings are also -1.5 (+205) on the puck line. Before making any Oilers vs. Kings picks, be sure to see the NHL predictions from SportsLine’s proven model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NHL game 10,000 times. It was profitable during the 2024-25 NHL regular season, and it was especially strong on top-rated puck-line and over/under NHL picks, going a combined 77-53 and returning more than $1,600 for $100 players. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
Now, here are three best bets for Kings vs. Oilers on Monday:
Kings on the moneyline (-127)
The Kings shut the Oilers out in each of their last two regular-season meetings, winning 3-0 in LA on April 5 and 5-0 in Edmonton on April 14. They have been the best team in the league since the NHL trade deadline, going 17-5-0 since March 7. They are also a defensive force at home, giving up just 1.98 goals per game in Southern California. This is why the SportsLine model has the Kings taking Game 1 in over 60% of simulations.
You’ve seen one of the best bets for Oilers vs. Kings on Monday. Now, get picks for every game from the model that ended the season going a combined 77-53 on over/under and puck-line picks.
Connor McDavid 2+ points (+120)
The five-time Art Ross Trophy winner enters the playoffs on a blistering points streak, contributing 11 assists over his last five games. He has two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in two games against Los Angeles this season, and totaled five assists against the Kings in Game 1 of this first-round matchup last season. It’s easy to see why this prop is listed at +120 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Want more NHL picks for Monday? Matt Severance is SportsLine’s No. 1 NHL expert, entering the NHL playoffs on a 120-62 roll on NHL sides picks, returning $2,490 for $100 players. See his best bet for this matchup at SportsLine.
Quinton Byfield anytime goalscorer (+310)
He may not be as recognizable a name as McDavid, but the 22-year-old center has been a key player in the Kings-Oilers matchup this season. Byfield scored three goals in four games against Edmonton this season and has scored four goals in five games leading up to the postseason. He is listed at +310 to scored in Game 1 at BetMGM Sportsbook.