How to watch Kings vs. Oilers: TV channel, schedule, start times

The Kings ended their four-year playoff drought with a gutsy performance down the final stretch of the regular season to secure third in the Pacific Division and a showdown with the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. With the best-of-seven series starting Monday, here’s a rundown of everything you need to follow the Kings on their playoff trek.

Kings forward Dustin Brown smiles during a game against the Nashville Predators in October.

(Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)

The Kings probably aren’t lacking motivation heading into their series with the Oilers, but the pending retirement of Dustin Brown adds a layer of intrigue. The timing of Brown’s announcement is surprising, but is it a wily motivational tactic by the former ol’ captain? Perhaps the Kings’ youth movement will be further moved knowing a quarter of the team’s remaining on-ice Stanley Cup legacy is skating into the sunset.

Momentum is also on the Kings’ side — the team is 5-0-1 and has been playing, arguably, some its best hockey of the season since its thumping by the Colorado Avalanche on April 13. The 99 points the Kings accumulated marks the most points they’ve had in a season since 2015-16.

Hockey

Elliott: Dustin Brown caps his memorable career as the ‘poster child for the L.A. Kings’

Kings’ Dustin Brown, Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf put SoCal on NHL map. They began their careers together, both were captains, and both are retiring.

April 29, 2022

Still, the high-scoring Oilers will present plenty of challenges. Connor McDavid led the league in points for the fourth time of his career, tallying 44 goals and 123 points. Teammate Leon Draisaitl, a former Art Ross and Hart Trophy winner, finished with 55 goals and 110 points. In four games against the Kings this season, the duo has combined for eight points in three Edmonton wins.

The Oilers are desperate for playoff success after being swept by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round last season. The next-gen Kings will have to limit McDavid and Draisaitl to avoid being one and done.

Here’s a look at the Kings vs. Oilers first-round playoff schedule:

Radio: AM 570 and iHeart Radio (English); AM 1330 (Spanish)

Here’s a look at every other first-round playoff series:

• Torch remains in Jonathan Quick’s hands as Kings open playoffs

• Dustin Brown caps memorable career as Kings ‘poster child’

• Dustin Brown, captain of the Kings’ Stanley Cup teams, to retire

• Kings call Stanley Cup playoffs berth ‘a long time coming’

• Drought is over: Kings playoff-bound for first time since 2018

• Elliott: For Dustin Brown and Kings, history is repeating itself

• It’s on you, Kings. You’re L.A.’s only spring playoff hope