LA Kings
Kings Dramatic Comeback Beats McDavid, Take 2-1 Series Lead
The Kings got the kill though and started to impose themselves in the period.
For the second time in three games the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers required overtime to determine a winner. In Game Three, the Kings took the series lead with a 3-2 overtime victory.
The Kings didn't start great. They went to the box just 39 seconds in after Phil Danault got his stick caught up in Connor McDavid's skates.
The Kings got the kill though and started to impose themselves in the period.
A little over five minutes in the game went to four-on-four. Viktor Arvidsson took an odd throwing equipment penalty after shooting a dropped stick toward an Edmonton player breaking the puck out. But, right after the play was whistled dead, Darnell Nurse clipped Arvidsson skate on skate.
After a short check for a potential major, Nurse was assessed two minutes.
Just over a minute into the four-on-four, Mattias Ekholm cross-checked Anze Kopitar in the corner, giving the Kings a four-on-three power play.
Alex Iafallo came close to giving the Kings a lead, ringing the crossbar on a one-timer, but the Kings couldn't solve Stuart Skinner.
The Kings continued to play their game and set the pace of play in the first and were rewarded late.
Matt Roy's point shot was tipped in front by an unmarked Iafallo, who swiped at his own rebound to put the Kings up 1-0 with 32 seconds left in the period.
It was maybe the Kings' best period of the series, with them finally playing with some authority for an extended period of time.
After a fairly low event first period, the game flew off the rails in the second.
McDavid netted his first two goals of the series less than two minutes apart with back-to-back power play snipes. After the second goal, Leon Draisaitl went over and slashed Drew Doughty, putting the Kings on a power play.
And 18 seconds after McDavid's second which put the Oilers up 2-1, Adrian Kempe cranked home a slap shot after Arvidsson fired the puck off the end boards and out to Kempe.
Just a few minutes later Drew Doughty and Evander Kane went off after colliding at center ice.
On the ensuing four-on-four, Arvidsson and Trevor Moore went down on a two-on-zero and Arvidsson was stuffed by Skinner.
The rest of the period was a physical back-and-forth game.
The teams went into the second intermission tied 2-2.
The two teams drastically tightened things up in the third period. Neither team was eager to take an extra risk and make a mistake to lose the game.
They exchanged penalties early in the period, but the two goalies stood tall on the penalty kill and kept the game tied.
Korpisalo in particular stood out in the third with some huge saves to keep the game even.
He's been stellar all series for the Kings and is proving to be even better than advertised through the first three games.
The Oilers finished the third with a small advantage in chances for, but the teams tied with four high-danger chances for in the third.
It's been a tightly contested series and the third period continued that trend.
The Kings were given a huge chance early in overtime, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins slashing Iafallo just under two minutes in.
On the ensuing power play, Gabe Vilardi fed Trevor Moore in front, who buried in tight to beat Skinner and give the Kings a 2-1 series lead.
There was a lengthy review to see if Vilardi had played the puck with a high stick leading up to the goal. But it was determined there was no conclusive evidence that Vilardi played the puck with a high stick and the goal stood.
It was another game where the Kings come from behind to beat the Oilers.
Resilience has been a theme for the Kings, as is timely power-play goals.
If the Kings can continue to capitalize at opportune times and continue winning the even-strength battle, they'll have a great chance of winning the series.
More stellar performances from Joonas Korpisalo will also help.