Dean Etheridge
The Los Angeles Kings take on the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night and here we preview their Pacific Division clash in our latest free NHL betting picks.
- What; NHL
- Who; Los Angeles Kings vs Edmonton Oilers
- Where; Crypto.com Arena, LA, California
- When; Monday, January 9th, 2023
- Puck Drop; 10.30 pm ET
The Kings have been in better form lately. But it’s the Oilers who are the side expected to go further this season. The top sportsbooks have the Oilers far shorter in the betting to win the 2023 Stanley Cup. BetOnline makes them +2200 to win their first Stanley Cup since 1990. The same sportsbook has the Kings at +4000.
Leading the betting to lift the Stanley Cup this season is the Boston Bruins. They’ve been in sensational form and lead the way in the betting to win the Stanley Cup at +500. Just behind the Bruins are the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche have had a troubled season so far and are a +700 to defend their trophy, having started the season as the +400 betting favorites.
Following closely behind are the Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs both at +800, with the Vegas Golden Knights at +900. More NHL betting odds can be found below in our Stanley Cup winner odds table.
| 2023 Stanley Cup Winner Betting |  |  |  |
| Boston Bruins | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1400 | +1300 | +1200 |
| New Jersey Devils | +1600 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Florida Panthers | +1800 | +1800 | +1700 |
| Calgary Flames | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| New York Rangers | +2200 | +1900 | +2000 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +2200 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Dallas Stars | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| LA Kings | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
Betting to win the Pacific Division
In the betting to win the Pacific Division, the Kings lead the Oilers, this despite the Oilers being far shorter to win the Stanley Cup. The best NHL betting sites make the Vegas Golden Knights their -165 favorites to win the division. They are followed by the Calgary Flames at +650, then it’s the Kings at +650, and the Oilers are +750.
The Seattle Kraken are also in the mix, BetOnline makes them +850 in what is a wide open betting market behind the Golden Knights. You can read more about BetOnline in our BetOnline sportsbook review.
LA Kings riding high in the Pacific Division
The LA Kings are enjoying a successful season in the Pacific Division, where they currently sit in second place just four points behind the Vegas Golden Knights.
In their last ten matches the Kings have a 7-2-1 record and they are on a winning streak of one. Last Thursday night they suffered a chastening 5-2 defeat at home to the Boston Bruins. But then on Saturday they rebounded brilliantly by going away to the Golden Knights and winning 5-1 against the division leaders and betting favorites.
Beat the House. #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/WW78xpnh3P
— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 8, 2023
Now that is a proper way to shut your critics up.
In total the Kings are 23-14-6. If the Kraken win their games in hand they will take over second place in the division from the Kings. But as things stand, it looks like a three horse race for the division between the Golden Knights, Kings, and Kraken.
Up and down season so far for the Oilers
As for the Oilers, well Jay Woodcroft’s team haven’t really got going yet this season, having lost nearly as many as they’ve won. After their collapse midway through the 2021/22 season, the Oilers would have hoped to have seen some improvement this time around, but little seems to have changed.
In their last ten outings, their record reads 4-4-2, and they are on a losing streak of one. Overall this season, the Oilers are 21-17-3. They sit fifth in the division, seven points behind the Kings with 45 points from 41 games.
IT’S CALE MAKAR!!! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/Sx28QAqOiZ
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 8, 2023
In their last fixture, the Oilers went down 3-2 at home to the Colorado Avalanche after overtime. It was a hard fought match, and in fairness, the Oilers more than held their own. Can they back it up with another impressive showing though? That’s the big question, and it’s this inconsistency that has seen them struggle again this season.
Kings vs Oilers Betting Picks
In the betting to win this matchup the best NHL betting sites are struggling to separate the two teams. On the moneyline the Kings are -120, with the Oilers at +100.
On the handicap the Oilers are receiving the +1.5 points start, and they are -250 to win. The Kings (-1.5 points) are +210. Total points is 6.5, with over 6.5 at -113, and under 6.5 goals at +102.
For me this is a match that is very hard to call. Which Oilers will turn up? Predict that, and you can probably predict the winner. I can’t back the Oilers on the handicap at -250, so if I was to bet on the match outcome, it would be the Kings on the handicap that would be the call.
For my betting pick though, I’m going for over 6.5 goals at -113. Both sides are scoring and conceding in almost every match, and although Edmonton haven’t been involved in as many high scoring matches as the Kings, I’m still making over 6.5 goals my betting pick.
