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5 questions with Oil on Whyte ahead of tonight’s matchup between the LA Kings and the Edmonton Oilers

By Cameron Franck

Jan 9, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) passes past Los Angeles Kings center Quinton Byfield (55) during the first period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) passes past Los Angeles Kings center Quinton Byfield (55) during the first period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports /
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Question #4: The race for first in Pacific Division is a tight one between the Oilers, Kings, and Golden Knights. Who is the preferred matchup for the Oilers in the first round?

"A: “Since the Edmonton Oilers are fresh of a dominating 7-4 win against the Golden Knights I would have to say the Oilers would prefer to play them. The Edmonton Oilers rely so much on offense that if a team can limit that then the Oilers are going to struggle and I think the Kings are the better shutdown team. The Kings pushed the Oilers to seven games last season while the Kings were missing a few key pieces. If the Kings have those pieces, that series could have went the other way. Both teams have improved from a year ago. It would be an awesome series to watch as it would be a very tight series, this is why I think the Golden Knights would be preferred.“"

The Vegas Golden Knights remain at the top of the division, but the Kings and Oilers are very close behind. If Vegas continues to struggle with their goaltending, then it is very possible that Los Angeles or Edmonton could leap over them in the standings.

Mar 23, 2023; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Logan Thompson (36) warms up before a game against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Holmes-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2023; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Logan Thompson (36) warms up before a game against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Holmes-USA TODAY Sports /

It also seems like Vegas is the straw that the other Pacific teams want to draw because the Oilers specialize in a high-powered offense, the Kings specialize in shutdown defense and have had more offensive output this season than is typically normal, but Vegas doesn’t really have an identity either way.

It seems like their only identity is to go after the big fish in free agency and throw all of their draft picks away. Granted, they have had terrible injury luck with their netminders. Robin Lehner was put on LTIR in October of last year. Laurent Brossoit and Logan Thompson have also missed time due to injuries. But, both of them have been activated off of IR as of March 25, 2022.

And with Mark Stone being out, it’s amazing how Vegas has stayed at the top of the division. But, both the Kings and Oilers are gnawing at that top spot.

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