The Los Angeles Kings are coming off a huge victory against their Pacific Division rivals, the Edmonton Oilers, on Saturday. That 1-0 win pushed Los Angeles back into the playoff picture in the second wild-card position.
However, it might not be the last time that the Kings would need to record a big win against the Oilers in April.
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The way the standings currently shape up, Los Angeles isn’t set to face Edmonton in the first round of the upcoming playoffs. But that hypothetical situation isn’t far from becoming a reality.
As it stands, the Kings would face the mighty Presidents’ Trophy winners, the Colorado Avalanche, in the opening round. But even with just three games left for Los Angeles, change is still possible in terms of seeding in the Western Conference, specifically the Pacific Division.
The Kings are just a pair of points behind the Anaheim Ducks, who are third in the Pacific. If Los Angeles can overtake Anaheim, and Edmonton remains in the second spot of the division, those two would face off in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fifth straight season.
Western Confrence Standings Watch: Can The Kings Catch Edmonton And Anaheim?
Western Confrence Standings Watch: Can The Kings Catch Edmonton And Anaheim? The NHL season is coming to a close, and the Kings can finish as high as second or completely miss out on the playoffs for the rest of the summer in the West.
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There is another possibility for these two familiar foes to meet in the first round for the fifth consecutive post-season. If the Oilers win the division, which is very possible considering they are just one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights for top spot, the Kings would need to overtake the Utah Mammoth for the first wild-card position in the West.
But because the Mammoth are in the Central Division and have more points than the Ducks, it’s more likely for the Kings and Oilers to meet as the third and second seed in the Pacific Division.
Of the last four meetings between the Kings and Oilers in the post-season, Edmonton has owned Los Angeles, winning all four series.
Last year, it looked like Los Angeles was finally going to advance past the first round. They had a 2-0 series lead and a 4-3 lead in Game 3, but the Oilers went on to win the best-of-seven series in six games.
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This time around, Los Angeles might get another shot at slaying Edmonton, and on its fifth attempt, the result might be different.
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