LA Kings
Kings Beat Oilers 4-3 in Overtime
The Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers opened the series with a bang Monday night!
The Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers opened the series with a bang Monday night! With the Kings beating the Oilers in overtime 4-3.
The Kings came out slow in the first and didn't look like they could match the Oilers intensity. They were getting beat physically and couldn't keep up with Edmonton's skill.
Leon Draisaitl opened the scoring after capitalizing on a bad bounce for the Kings.
The Kings then got into penalty trouble, with Drew Doughty turning the puck over deep in the offensive zone to Connor McDavid, Doughty had to hook McDavid.
On the ensuing power play, McDavid attacked the Kings defense 1-3, beating all three players and drawing another penalty.
On the five-on-three, Evan Bouchard found himself open in the slot and sniped Joonas Korpisalo to double Edmonton's lead early.
The Kings kept the game at 2-0 but looked all but dead after 20 minutes.
To open up the second, the Kings looked much improved and had two early power-play opportunities.
The Kings couldn't capitalize and as the period went on, Edmonton began to take over once again.
The Kings managed to escape the second down 2-0, in a four-on-four situation.
The Kings got back into the game early in the third, with Adrian Kempe getting them on the board at four-on-four.
Kempe attacked Edmonton's defense and put a backhand on net that fooled Skinner.
Draisaitl re-established the Oilers two goal lead eight minutes later, picking up his own rebound after the Kings failed to clear the puck from the front of their net.
Kempe responded with his second of the game shortly after, sniping Skinner after a nice play from Quinton Byfield to slide the puck over after a faceoff.
Chasing the game, the Kings were given a golden opportunity late with Bouchard going off after hitting Trevor Moore high.
The Kings pulled the net and were able to tie the game with 16 seconds left. Viktor Arvidsson sent a beautiful pass across to Phil Danault, who squeaked the puck under Skinner's glove.
With the puck sitting in the crease, Anze Kopitar was Johnny on the spot to put the puck into an empty net. Sending the game to overtime.
After the Oilers controlled play for the start of overtime, they thought they had won the game, but the goal was called off for a high-stick.
The Kings then found their game. And nine minutes in, the Kings went on the power play after Blake Lizotte drew a trip.
On the ensuing power play, the Kings scored a beautiful tic-tac-toe goal, going high, to low, to the slot for Alex Iafallo to bury in front.
Without Gabe Vilardi or Kevin Fiala and down two in the third period. The Kings showed impressive resolve to come back and win the game in overtime.
Their stars showed up when it mattered and Korpisalo stood tall in net.
Now up 1-0 in the series, the Kings will grow in confidence, especially if players like Vilardi and Fiala return.