Kings vs Oilers Game 3: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

The Los Angeles Kings are back on home ice on Friday to take on the Edmonton Oilers in Game Three. 

Puck drops at 7:00 PM.

The Kings held the best home record in the Pacific Division during the regular season and need a strong performance at Crypto.com Arena Friday.

They need a quick start in particular. They've been too slow out of the gates in Games One and Two and need to break that trend. 

The return of Gabe Vilardi in Game Two was a massive boost as he had an immediate impact with a big goal in the second period.

He grew into that game and there's reason to believe he continues to improve and is even better in Game Three.

After strong performances in Games One and Two, Joonas Korpisalo is getting the nod in net again.

Blake Lizotte did not take morning skate and Vilardi filled in at third line center. Artur Kaliyev appears to be out, with Zack MacEwen and Jaret Anderson-Dolan taking rushes with Rasmus Kupari.

Per Todd McLellan, Lizotte is hurt and out tonight. Kevin Fiala is still out and progressing well per McLellan.

Projected Los Angeles Kings Lines:

Quinton Byfield-Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe

Trevor Moore-Phil Danault-Viktor Arvidsson

Carl Grundstrom-Gabe Vilardi-Alex Iafallo

Jaret Anderson-Dolan-Rasmus Kupari-Zack MacEwen

Defense:

Mikey Anderson-Drew Doughty

Vladislav Gavrikov -Matt Roy 

Alex Edler-Sean-Durzi

Goalies:

Joonas Korpisalo

Pheonix Copley

Projected Edmonton Oilers Lines:

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Connor McDavid-Zach Hyman

Evander Kane-Leon Draisailt-Kailer Yamamoto

Klim Kostin-Nick Bjugstad-Warren Foegele 

Ryan McLeod-Derek Ryan

Defense:

Darnell Nurse-Cody Ceci

Mattias Ekholm-Evan Bouchard

Brett Kulak-Vincent Desharnais

Philip Broberg

Goalies:

Stuart Skinner

Jack Campbell

Special Teams:

Los Angeles Kings Power Play: 2-10, 20.00%, 10th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Penalty Kill: 2-4, 50.00%, 16th in NHL

Edmonton Oilers Power Play: 2-4, 50.00%, 1st in NHL

Edmonton Oilers Penalty Kill: 8-10, 80.00%, 7th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Pregame Notes:

• Gabriel Vilardi tallied his first career playoff goal with 44 seconds remaining in the second period of Game 2 on Wednesday night. Vilardi’s goal is the second game-tying goal scored by a King's skater with under a minute to go in any period this postseason (Anze Kopitar, 19:43 of P3, April 17 at EDM).
• Adrian Kempe led all Kings skaters in points at home in the 2022-23 regular season with 38 (23-15=38). Kempe joined Anze Kopitar (4x, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18, 2021-22) and Jeff Carter (2014-15) as the only Kings skaters to record as many home points in a season in the last 10 seasons.
• Defensemen Sean Durzi and Matt Roy have each registered seven blocked shots over Games 1 and 2. The only skaters with more in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs are Minnesota’s Jake Middleton (9) and Jonas Brodin (8).
• Both Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty are set to appear in their 42nd career home playoff game tonight, moving one shy of Dave Taylor (43) for third-most in franchise history.
• Adrian Kempe’s 12 shots this postseason leads all Kings skaters and sit fourth among all skaters, trailing Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (15) and Bowen Byram (13), Minnesota’s Matt Boldy (13) and Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor (13).

How to Watch:

 TV: Bally Sports SoCal, TNT; Radio: LA Kings iHeart Audio Network