Puck Prose
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Puck Prose round table: Picking the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

By Matt McGinnis

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: J.T. Compher #37 of the Colorado Avalanche and Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shake hands after the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: J.T. Compher #37 of the Colorado Avalanche and Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shake hands after the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Edmonton Oilers, Leon Draisaitl #29, Los Angeles Kings
Edmonton Oilers, Leon Draisaitl #29, Los Angeles Kings. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings

Jim Lynch

I am going to say Edmonton in five games. Neither team has the best goaltending, but offensively the Oilers are a juggernaut with Connor McDavid. McDavid is going to be the series MVP. As for a prediction, the Oilers are going to have the best power play in round one.

Matt McGinnis

I’d love to pick the LA Kings here, especially after they lost to the Oilers last season, but Edmonton is simply playing too well to lose this series. Connor McDavid and company win in six games.

This isn’t bold by any means, but McDavid will be the series MVP. My bold prediction will be that he and Leon Draisaitl combine for 25 or more points.

Vinnie Parise

The Edmonton Oilers take down the Los Angeles Kings in five games. Special teams will be the difference as the Oilers have the most talent in the league. The MVP of the series will be Connor McDavid who keeps his amazing season going.

Richard Jelinek

The Edmonton Oilers fail to eliminate the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second year in a row. The Kings take the series in six games, and the MVP will be Pheonix Copley. Anze Kopitar leads both teams in scoring.

Alex Neier

I have the Edmonton Oilers winning in six games. This is going to be a series with a whole lot of offense and not a lot of defending going on. With that being said, the Oilers have much better depth offensively than the Kings along with the best two hockey players in the world.

It is also uncertain if LA will have Vilardi or Fiala to start the series. I think these are two great teams, but my advantage is going to Edmonton. Out-of-box prediction: Game 6 of this series will see 10+ goals combined scored.

Jaroslav Husvar

It is basic knowledge that the Oilers have the best player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and their offensive firepower is a luxury. On the other hand, just 191 of 325 goals came at 5v5 (one less than the Sabres, who missed the playoffs).

Edmonton conceded the most goals at 5v5 of the remaining 16 teams. They don’t care about conceding goals and want to score six or seven every game.

That won’t work, and the Kings will win in six. Joonas Korpisalo is the MVP in this series. This series can be about goalies, and LA has a better tandem. Korpisalo has been a real standout since coming over from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Brad Wiszowaty

Last season, I chose LA because of their veteran stars and Edmonton’s goaltending. This season I am going opposite and choosing the Oilers to win in six games. LA may outplay Edmonton, but they will not be able to slow down McDavid the way they did at times during the regular season.

McDavid will be the MVP, but Mattias Ekholm will of course be the unsung hero. My bold prediction is that the series is lower scoring than expected with both Korpisalo and Skinner finishing with save percentages above .920.

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