Game Forty-Two Preview: Kings @ Oilers

The Los Angeles Kings head into the third of a five-game road trip against the Edmonton Oilers.

This is the second-of-four meetings between these two clubs this season. The Kings won their first matchup back on December 28th, 2024, 4-3, in overtime.

Both teams played on Saturday–the Kings coming off a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames, the Oilers a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Oilers are 6-3-1 in their last ten regular season matchups versus the Kings, with a total score of 25-25.

QUINTON OIL FIELD

In eleven regular season games versus the Oilers, Kings Forward Quinton Byfield has recorded ten points (5G, 5A).

Byfield is riding a five-game (regular season) point streak against the Oilers with a 1.80 PPG average (4G, 5A) and a +7 rating.

In their last meeting on December 28th, 2024, Byfield registered three points (2G, 1A), a +3 rating, scored the overtime game winning goal and was named the night's second star.

SKINN-OR-OUT

Oilers Forward Jeff Skinner was a healthy scratch on Saturday for the second time this season and will likely be out of the lineup today.

Skinner signed a one-year/$3M AAV deal with the Oilers this past offseason. Coming off a forty-six point (24G, 22A) campaign in 2023-24, the Oilers added Skinner as an offensive contributor to bolster their middle-bottom-six.

With fifteen points (7G, 8A) in forty-games this season, fans are already seeing the writing on the wall that Skinner's time in Edmonton could be short lived.

I have suggested the Kings should try and sign Skinner this upcoming summer if the term and salary are low.

Skinner would be an excellent finisher alongside Trevor Lewis, Tanner Jeannot, Andre Lee, and Samuel Helenius. Kings fans might argue the team should just call up Samuel Fagemo — tied for third in goals (19) in the American Hockey League (AHL) — to add some scoring to the bottom-six and power play. Skinner, now in his fifteenth NHL season, is a true veteran who can provide more than just a scoring touch.

EDMUND-TON

Kings Defenseman Joel Edmundson took a scary fall to the ice on January 4th, 2025, at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Edmundson is traveling with the Kings on this road trip and has resumed practice in a full-contact jersey. He was held out of Saturday's game against the Calgary Flames, likely for an additional day of rest and recovery.

In twenty-five career games against the Oilers, Edmundson has averaged 2.56 hits and 1.64 blocked shots per game with a +11 rating.

Puck drop is slated for 6:35 PM PST. You can watch the game on television via the FanDuel Sports Network or listen live with the ESPN LA app.

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