The Los Angeles Kings achieved a remarkable victory over the Edmonton Oilers, winning 4–3 in a shootout in a thrilling NHL matchup. This victory marked a significant moment for the Kings, notably as they played without their star player, Anže Kopitar.
Kings Triumph in Shootout Victory Without Kopitar
The game took place in Edmonton, where the Kings improved their standings to 48 points, paralleling their rivals, the Seattle Kraken. Meanwhile, the Oilers are in fifth place with 51 points, while the leading Colorado Avalanche sit at 73 points.
Match Highlights
Edmonton opened the scoring with a goal from Leon Draisaitl in the first period, giving them a 1–0 lead. However, the Kings responded swiftly. Corey Perry equalized for Los Angeles with a power-play goal late in the first period.
- 1st Period: Draisaitl scores 1–0 (Edmonton)
- 1st Period: Perry scores 1–1 (Los Angeles)
The second period saw Draisaitl strike again, putting Edmonton ahead 2–1 early on. Yet, the Kings found their footing again, with Andre Lee scoring to level the match once more.
- 2nd Period: Draisaitl scores 2–1 (Edmonton)
- 2nd Period: Lee scores 2–2 (Los Angeles)
In the final period, Alex Laferriere put the Kings up 3–2. However, Connor McDavid, playing in front of his home crowd, equalized the game at 3–3, forcing the match into overtime.
- 3rd Period: Laferriere scores 3–2 (Los Angeles)
- 3rd Period: McDavid scores 3–3 (Edmonton, power play)
Overtime and Shootout Performance
Overtime ended scoreless, leading to a shootout. Adrian Kempe emerged as the decisive scorer for the Kings, while Connor Ingram of Edmonton made 27 saves during regulation. Anton Forsberg, the Kings’ goaltender, had 21 saves and successfully stopped penalty attempts from McDavid and Draisaitl.
This match was the first meeting between the Kings and Oilers since the first round of last season’s playoffs. Historically, the Oilers have eliminated the Kings in the first round of the playoffs for the past four seasons.
Upcoming Games
The Kings are set to face the Dallas Stars next, who recently lost to the San Jose Sharks in overtime. As the NHL season progresses, both teams aim to solidify their playoff positions.
- Next Game: Los Angeles Kings vs. Dallas Stars (Tuesday Morning)
In summary, the Kings’ victory in Edmonton not only enhances their standings but also sets a thrilling tone for future games, all while showcasing their depth in the lineup with Kopitar sidelined due to injury.
