The Edmonton Oilers visit the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday in a very interesting matchup on the ice. Both teams are jockeying for playoff positioning in the Pacific Division as the season nears the month of March, with Edmonton just four points ahead of Los Angeles entering this contest. Both teams are on the second night of back-to-backs here, which will make things even more interesting all over the ice. Before this contest begins, keep reading to get my Oilers vs Kings prediction.
Our Oilers vs Kings Pick
Pick:
Confidence: 1 out of 5
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings
- Date & Time: Thursday, February 26, 2026, 10:30 PM Eastern Time
- Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
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The Oilers enter Thursday’s game having lost four games in a row, including their return from the Olympic break on Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The Kings didn’t fare any better in their return from the break on Wednesday, dropping a 6-4 game to the Vegas Golden Knights. Both teams have to come back one night later and try to get a win on tired legs in this contest.
Goaltending
Goaltending remains a point of emphasis for both squads heading into this matchup. The Kings have leaned heavily on Darcy Kuemper, who has a save percentage around .900 with a goals‑against average of 2.59. Those numbers reflect an average but steady presence between the pipes, capable of keeping the Kings in games but not necessarily stealing one on his own. Edmonton’s goaltending situation should see Tristan Jarry in net here, who enters this matchup with a 3.18 GAA that leaves plenty to be desired.
Key skaters
Edmonton’s offense continues to be driven by its top talents, particularly Connor McDavid, who leads the Oilers in goals and assists this season. His ability to create scoring chances out of seemingly nothing is one of Edmonton’s greatest assets and can tilt a close game in their favor. On the Kings’ side, leaders like Adrian Kempe and the recently-added Artemi Panarin give Los Angeles offensive weaponry of its own. Kempe’s goal scoring and Panarin’s playmaking make the Kings dangerous at 5‑on‑5 and on the power play.
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Kings won the first matchup between these teams this season in a shootout in January.
- The Oilers are 13-13-4 on the road this year.
- The Kings are 8-12-7 in their home games so far this season.
Oilers vs Kings Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
Final Thoughts
