Edmonton Oilers vs. Kings Prediction: Over 5.5 Still Too Low
Updated July 9, 2026
Oilers continue their road trip and have a shot at clinching their spot in the playoffs if it ends in a Oilers win. Meanwhile the Kings are facing each game like a final, as they are desperately trying to hold off Western rivals for the second Wild Card spot.
The market has adjusted slightly downward from 6.5 to 5.5 in some spots due to expected stronger goaltending and playoff intensity. However, that adjustment may have gone too far given Edmonton’s current offensive form and the way both teams are generating chances.
Edmonton has scored 10 goals across its last 2 games, and more importantly, those goals are backed by strong chance creation rather than pure shooting luck. When a high-end offensive team is generating quality looks at this rate, a total of 5.5 becomes vulnerable even in a tighter game script. My projection lands closer to 6.2 goals, creating value on the over.
Key Storylines
Both teams are still fighting for playoff positioning, but that does not automatically translate into low scoring. Edmonton is leading the Pacific but has not secured its spot, while Los Angeles is under pressure in the wild card race. That urgency often increases reliance on top players and special teams, which can actually raise scoring volatility.
Recent Form
Edmonton’s recent form is driven by offense. 10 goals in 2 games is not just a surface stat. Their offensive zone time and rush chances have both increased, and they continue to lean heavily on elite playmakers to create high-danger looks.
Los Angeles has been more balanced but is allowing more dangerous chances than earlier in the season. Even in wins, they have not fully controlled shot quality, which is a key signal when evaluating totals.
Goaltending
The expected matchup is Tristan Jarry against Darcy Kuemper. While both are capable starters, neither has been consistently dominant enough to fully suppress a high-end offense like Edmonton when defensive structure breaks down.
Kuemper gives Los Angeles stability, but he is facing an Oilers team currently generating elite looks. Jarry, on the other side, still carries volatility, especially when facing sustained pressure. That combination supports a higher scoring environment than the market implies.
Key Skaters
Connor McDavid is driving Edmonton’s offensive surge and remains the single biggest factor in the total. His ability to create high-danger chances off the rush directly increases scoring probability.
Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard add secondary layers of offensive pressure, particularly on the power play. For Los Angeles, Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar provide enough offensive consistency to ensure the Kings contribute to the total rather than relying on a one-sided scoreline.
Metric | Edmonton | Los Angeles | Betting Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
Scoring | 3.48 goals per game | 2.68 goals per game | Edge Oilers Edmonton’s scoring ceiling raises total expectations |
Defense | 3.04 goals against per game | 2.86 goals against per game | Lean Over Neither defense is suppressing chances at an elite recent level |
Special Teams | Elite power play | Strong penalty kill | Edge Over Edmonton’s power play can generate high leverage goals |
Advanced Metric | Strong xGF% with high chance generation | 51.89% xGF% | Edge Oilers Higher quality chances increase scoring efficiency |
Schedule Spot | 1 day rest | 1 day rest | Even No fatigue suppression of pace |
The expected game script now leans more toward trading chances rather than a fully controlled defensive battle. Edmonton will push pace through its top line, and Los Angeles has shown enough offensive response to avoid being shut down.
Even if the Kings attempt to slow the game, Edmonton’s ability to generate off the rush and on special teams creates multiple scoring paths. That increases the likelihood of reaching 6 total goals even without a full shootout.
The total is currently sitting at 5.5 with the over slightly juiced around -115. That implies roughly a 53% probability.
My projection is closer to 56%, driven by Edmonton’s offensive surge and the increased rate of high-danger chances in recent games. That gap creates a small but actionable edge on the over.
The moneyline remains efficient, with Edmonton only a slight favorite. There is no clear pricing mistake on the side, which reinforces focusing on the total.
Market | Odds |
|---|---|
Moneyline | Oilers around -140 | Kings around +118 |
Total | Over 5.5 -115 | Under 5.5 -105 |
Puckline | Oilers -1.5 +230 | Kings +1.5 -294 |
Edmonton’s offense is trending up in both production and underlying chance quality, and that is not fully captured in the current number. Even with solid goaltenders expected, the combination of elite playmaking, power play efficiency, and defensive lapses on both sides supports a higher scoring outcome.
This is not a blind over based on recent goals. It is a spot where offensive process, player quality, and market adjustment combine to create a modest but real edge.
Final Score Prediction: Oilers 4 – Kings 3
After the games on Thursday night, I'm 7 for 7 on the NHL picks this week after Thursday night's games. (BOS@CAR, EDM@UTA, NSH@ANA, TBL@MTL, MIN@DAL, NSH@UTA, SJS@ANA).
See all our NHL predictions (old and new) in our NHL picks section.
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