Connect with us

LA Kings

Kings Season Over After 5-4 Loss Against Oilers

The Oilers held on and eliminated the Kings in six.

Published

on

After a hard-fought series, the Los Angeles Kings' season is over. Their 5-4 loss against the Edmonton Oilers marks the second year in a row that Edmonton's knocked them out of the playoffs.

The Oilers couldn't have asked for a better start. On the game's second shift, they loaded up Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together who got straight to work.

McDavid tipped an Evan Bouchard point shot between Joonas Korpisalo's legs and in to give Edmonton a lead less than two minutes in. 

Edmonton controlled the next few minutes of play but the Kings slowly chipped away and got back into the game.

Eight minutes in after a huge block from Quinton Byfield, Kevin Fiala dangled through the neutral zone and dished off to Sean Durzi whose point shot beat a screened Stuart Skinner.

Getting offense from that third line is exactly what the Kings needed and it gave them a huge momentum boost.

The Kings controlled play for a bit after the goal but didn't hold the lead for long. 

It was another negative for the fourth line and third pair, a problematic trend in the series for Los Angeles.

After Sean Walker backed too far off and allowed Klim Kostin room to cut into the middle and snipe Korpisalo. 

The Oilers then re-gained the momentum and pinned the Kings on their heels. 

After McDavid wheeled around the zone, he fed Darnell Nurse who had an open net to shoot at. But, Drew Doughty got is foot in front of the puck and grabbed a crucial block to keep the game 2-1.

The Kings got themselves back into the game a bit and played more on the front foot to end the period but couldn't tie the game.

They went into the intermission down 2-1, but outshooting the Oilers 17-11 and even on high-danger chances at six.

 The Oilers' deadly power play got them on the board again. With the McDavid to Draisaitl connection punishing the Kings.

The Kings' power play did some damage of their own though. As Adrian Kempe sniped home his team-leading fifth goal of the series from the right faceoff circle.

Then, two minutes later Fiala grabbed his third point of the night. Beating Skinner over the shoulder for the team's second power-play goal.

To cap off a flurry of goals, Kostin grabbed his second of the game at 10:54. After a few unforced errors by the Kings. Kostin pounced on a rebound that he hammered over Korpisalo's shoulder and in.

The Kings got themselves back into the game early in the third on the weirdest goal of the series.

On the power play, Skinner came out of his crease to play the puck and saw his stick break as he attempted an outlet pass. 

The puck went straight to Phil Danault who hammered the puck in an empty net to get the Kings back into the game.

The Kings had their chances to win the game but with three minutes left, former Jr. King Kailer Yamamoto beat Korpisalo over the shoulder with a spin-around shot.

The Oilers held on and eliminated the Kings in six.

In a series where depth was supposed to be the Kings' big advantage. It was Edmonton's depth that won them Game Six and ultimately the series. 

There will be positives for the Kings to take after the series, but losing to Edmonton for a second year in a row will sting.

 

Copyright © 2023 National Hockey Now. Not affiliated or endorsed by the Los Angeles Kings or the NHL.