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Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers

Los Angeles Kings vs.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers is a National Hockey League matchup and one of the league’s notable rivalries. The teams have met frequently in the regular season and postseason, with the rivalry especially prominent in the 1980s and 1990s and renewed in the 2020s through repeated playoff series won by Edmonton.

Background

The Kings–Oilers rivalry is a long-running NHL matchup between the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers. It developed into one of the league’s better-known rivalries through repeated regular-season and playoff meetings.

Historic significance

The rivalry’s reputation was shaped by high-stakes games in the 1980s and 1990s, along with the major player movement involving Wayne Gretzky and Marty McSorley. These events made the matchup especially prominent in NHL history.

2020s playoff meetings

The rivalry returned to prominence in the 2020s when the teams met in the first round of the playoffs in four straight seasons from 2022 to 2025. Edmonton won each of those series.

Series record

The cited series record shows Edmonton leading the overall head-to-head and postseason records. The teams have played nearly 300 total meetings across regular season and playoffs.

Key facts

  • The matchup is commonly described as the Kings–Oilers rivalry in the NHL.
  • The rivalry was especially intense during the 1980s and 1990s, when the teams often met in the playoffs.
  • The trade of Wayne Gretzky and Marty McSorley is one of the rivalry’s defining historical events.
  • The teams have met 11 times in the playoffs, with Edmonton holding the postseason edge.
  • The rivalry became prominent again in the 2020s after the teams met in the first round from 2022 through 2025, all won by Edmonton.
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Canadian context

Edmonton is a Canadian NHL team, and the rivalry is relevant to Canadian hockey history and fans, especially because of the Oilers’ Stanley Cup-era legacy and their repeated playoff meetings with Los Angeles.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Kings vs. Oilers rivalry?
It is the NHL rivalry between the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers, known for frequent regular-season and playoff meetings.
When did the teams first meet?
Their first meeting was on December 22, 1979.
How many playoff series have they played?
They have met in the playoffs 11 times.
Who leads the all-time series?
Edmonton leads the all-time series 149–111–30–5.
Why is the rivalry historically notable?
It was especially intense in the 1980s and 1990s and is associated with the Wayne Gretzky and Marty McSorley trade.
What happened in the 2020s rivalry run?
The teams met in the first round of the playoffs from 2022 to 2025, and Edmonton won each series.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings%E2%80%93Oilers_rivalry
    Supports: Rivalry overview, historical significance, first meeting, all-time and postseason series records, and 2020s playoff meetings.
  2. CBS Sports / AP — https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20250414_LA@EDM/
    Supports: Recent playoff history noting Edmonton eliminated Los Angeles in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
  3. CBS Sports / AP — https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/preview/NHL_20260110_LA@EDM/
    Supports: January 2026 meeting context and note that Edmonton had eliminated Los Angeles in the previous four seasons.