The Edmonton Oilers are down to the final push of the regular season, and Saturday afternoon's matchup against the Los Angeles Kings carries serious playoff implications. A single point would clinch Edmonton's spot in the postseason dance—a milestone that feels both imminent and urgent as April hockey heats up across the league.
The afternoon matinee at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles kicks off at 2 p.m. MT, with Sportsnet West carrying the action live. It marks the Oilers' final road trip of the regular season, and the stakes couldn't be clearer.
Injury Updates Bring Cautious Optimism
The Oilers remain without key contributors Zach Hyman and Leon Draisaitl as both continue their recoveries from injury. However, Friday's practice brought encouraging news: goaltender Connor Ingram participated fully after leaving Wednesday's 5-2 win over San Jose with an undisclosed injury. Though the team hasn't officially named their starter for the matinee, Ingram appears to be a possibility to return between the pipes.
Edmonton's depth was tested in that San Jose victory when Tristan Jarry entered the game in the third period, but the Oilers proved capable of grinding out the win despite the unexpected goalie swap.
New-Look Lines Signal Roster Adjustments
Head coach's staff made some notable tweaks at Friday's practice, with Max Jones and Kasperi Kapanen moving up to the second line alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Jones has been a spark plug this season with three goals and five points in 20 games, all at even strength. His offensive rate—1.04 goals per hour at five-on-five—matches Connor McDavid's production pace, an impressive comparison despite the limited sample size. Jones looks like a viable candidate to remain in the lineup as a permanent fourth-line contributor once the team's injury situation improves.
Defence Pairing Worth Monitoring
The partnership of Darnell Nurse and Connor Murphy has become a focal point of discussion, though the outlook remains mixed. Through 239 minutes of five-on-five play together, they've slightly outscored opponents 7-6, but the underlying metrics paint a different picture. The pairing is allowing 3.35 goals against per 60 minutes while facing a relentless barrage of scoring chances—34 per hour of ice time. Murphy, who has absorbed most of his minutes against elite competition, has been outscored 7-0 in those matchups. The Oilers appear committed to the pairing for now, but cracks are beginning to show as the team approaches the playoffs.
Kings Come to Play
Los Angeles enters Saturday's contest as one of the league's stories this season. Sitting 33-26-19, the Kings hold the second wild card position thanks to a solid 5-2-3 stretch over their last 10 games. They've set an NHL record with 32 overtime games played in a single season, though their 13-19 record in those extra periods suggests they haven't capitalized on the opportunities. Among the 50 teams in history to play 25-plus overtime games in a season, the Kings rank 28th in win-loss percentage—a statistical reality that could haunt them down the stretch.
Since the Olympic break, Los Angeles's top two lines have been firing on all cylinders. Artemi Panarin, Anze Kopitar, and Adrian Kempe have dominated with a 17-10 scoring advantage, while the second line has held even at 12-12. Both lines boast strong underlying metrics, controlling expected goals and shot attempts with ease. Panarin, acquired at the trade deadline, has been a game-changer with eight goals and 25 points in just 22 games for LA.
When these teams last met on February 26, Edmonton dominated 8-1—but Panarin was barely a week into his Kings tenure. A rematch against a fully integrated Los Angeles roster will be a different challenge.
This article is based on reporting from OilersNation. For more detailed analysis and exclusive Oilers coverage, visit OilersNation.com.