Kings eliminated by Oilers again, this time in 5 games
Leon Draisaitl scores twice to lead Edmonton to a 4-3 victory as the Oilers oust the Kings in the opening round for the third straight year after coming out on top in six games in 2023 and seven in 2022
Kings goalie David Rittich looks on as the Edmonton Oilers’ Vincent Desharnais (73), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93), Leon Draisaitl (29), Evander Kane (91) and Brett Kulak (27) celebrate a goal during the first period of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Edmonton, Alberta. The Oilers won, 4-3, to win the series 4-1 and eliminate the Kings in the opening round for the third straight season. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Matt Roy (3) chases the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) as goalie David Rittich, right, poke checks the puck during the second period of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Pierre-Luc Dubois skates the puck against the Edmonton Oilers’ Corey Perry, right, during the first period of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
The Kings’ Carl Grundstrom (91) collides with the Edmonton Oilers’ Cody Ceci (5) during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Quinton Byfield (55) is checked by the Edmonton Oilers’ Vincent Desharnais (73) during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Kevin Fiala (22) and the Edmonton Oilers’ Vincent Desharnais (73) battle for the puck during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Blake Lizotte (46) is stopped by the Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Edmonton Oilers’ Mattias Ekholm, right, and the Kings’ Viktor Arvidsson battle for the puck along the boards during the first period of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
The Kings’ Alex Laferriere (78) scores a goal on Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Alex Laferriere, left, scores against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, far right, during the first period of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
Kings players celebrate a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Kevin Fiala (22) and the Edmonton Oilers’ Brett Kulak (27) battle for the puck during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Kings goalie David Rittich looks on as the Edmonton Oilers’ Vincent Desharnais (73), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93), Leon Draisaitl (29), Evander Kane (91) and Brett Kulak (27) celebrate a goal during the first period of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Edmonton, Alberta. The Oilers won, 4-3, to win the series 4-1 and eliminate the Kings in the opening round for the third straight season. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) and the Edmonton Oilers’ Darnell Nurse (25) battle for the puck during the first period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Edmonton Oilers’ Corey Perry (90) reacts after being injured against the Kings during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl (29), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) and Zach Hyman (18) celebrate a goal against the Kings during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Jordan Spence (21) and the Edmonton Oilers’ Corey Perry (90) battle for the puck during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Edmonton Oilers’ Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93), Leon Draisaitl (29), Evan Bouchard (2), Zach Hyman (18) and Connor McDavid (97) celebrate a goal against the Kings during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Kings goalie David Rittich (31) is scored on by the Edmonton Oilers’ Zach Hyman (18) during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Mikey Anderson (44) and Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) chase the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Alex Laferriere (78) and Blake Lizotte (46) celebrate a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Viktor Arvidsson (33) chases the Edmonton Oilers’ Mattias Ekholm (14) during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) and Mattias Ekholm (14) celebrate the win over the Kings in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Edmonton Oilers’ Mattias Ekholm (14) celebrates the win over the Kings in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Kings’ Anze Kopitar (11) and the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) shake hands after Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl (29) and Connor McDavid (97) talk with Kings captain Anze Kopitar, center, following Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
The Kings and the Edmonton Oilers players shake hands after the Oilers won Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, on Wednesday May 1, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, left, and teammate Vincent Desharnais celebrate following Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Kings on Wednesday night in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
The Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid, left, and goaltender Stuart Skinner celebrate following Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Kings on Wednesday night in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, Alberta — When you allow the Edmonton Oilers to nearly set a franchise record with nine power-play goals in a playoff series, your chances of winning are pretty slim, and the Kings found out the hard way.
Leon Draisaitl scored twice, while Evander Kane and Zach Hyman also tallied their second and seventh goals of the series as Edmonton knocked the Kings out of the playoffs for a third straight year with a 4-3 win on Wednesday night at Rogers Place to take their Western Conference first-round series 4-1.
Evan Bouchard added three assists, and Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two each. McDavid extended his points total to a playoff-leading 12 (one goal, 11 assists).
Alex Laferriere and Blake Lizotte scored their first-ever playoff goals in the loss, while Adrian Kempe scored late in the third period as the Kings pressed for the equalizer.
Edmonton finished 9 for 21 on the power play, while the Kings were 0 for 12 in the series. The Oilers’ power play the last three years against the Kings in the playoffs finished 25 for 56 (44.6%) overall.
While the Kings went toe-to-toe with the Oilers at even-strength, special teams played a huge role in why the Kings are going home early for the third straight season.
“It’s pretty simple to write this one,” Kings interim head coach Jim Hiller said. “You saw one team execute, and one team not, on special teams.”
David Rittich made his second straight start for the Kings and made 22 saves in the loss, while Stuart Skinner made 18 saves in the win as the Oilers will advance and face the winner of the Vancouver-Nashville series.
“Yes, they have an amazing power play, amazing players and throw a lot of amazing things at us. But a lot of those goals were preventable, in my opinion. And it wasn’t like we weren’t trying to do the right thing,” a dejected Drew Doughty said.
“We tried to block shots, take passing lanes away. They’re good players, but if we had a better PK, I think we would have taken the series deeper, for sure.”
With their playoff lives on the line, the Kings came out strong in the opening half of the first period, but found themselves down 1-0 on Kane’s goal at the 10:17 mark.
After Laferriere’s goal tied the score with 28 seconds left in the first period, it gave the Kings a much-needed jolt, and Lizotte’s wrist shot from just inside the right faceoff circle gave the Kings a 2-1 lead at the 3:08 mark of the second period – but the Kings fell on tough times from there.
It became a parade to the penalty box not long after Lizotte’s go-ahead goal and the Oilers only scored one goal on the man advantage, but you might as well call it three power-play goals, as they connected on two more goals just four and three seconds after penalties to Pierre-Luc Dubois and Doughty expired.
Draisaitl had a power-play goal at 7:44 of the second after a couple exchanges with McDavid to tie it. Rittich appeared to rob Draisaitl with a desperation glove save, but fans cheered as if it were a goal upon seeing the replay and officials ruled the puck crossed the line after a video review.
McDavid and Draisaitl connected again just after a penalty expired with 7:39 left in the period for the German forward’s fifth of the playoffs.
“When he’s got his feet moving, when he’s playing hard on both sides of the puck, there’s not many guys better than him in the whole world,” McDavid said. “He always seems to bring that game this time of year.”
The undisciplined Kings put Edmonton up a man again near the end of the period. This time, Hyman tapped home a puck on the goal line moments after Dubois stepped out of the box to make it 4-2.
“It’s super frustrating. I don’t really have all the answers for you with what’s missing. We need more guys to step up and play better … all of us – every single guy on our team,” Doughty said.
With their backs against the wall in the third period, the Kings weren’t able to muster many quality scoring chances in the final frame. After recording just five shots in the second period, they fired just six shots on Skinner, four of which were in the final three minutes of the game.
Kempe re-directed a point shot from Matt Roy with 2:28 remaining with Rittich pulled to cut Edmonton’s lead to 4-3. They had another couple decent looks on Skinner in the final minute of play, but they couldn’t find the equalizer.
“You’re out of the playoffs regardless of who beats you, but definitely not a great feeling getting the worst of it three years in a row. Definitely a disappointing feeling. Obviously (losing) for a third year in a row, it sucks right now,” Kings captain Anze Kopitar said.
“We just got to play better really. Special teams hurt us a lot in this series. There were parts of the games where we were good, we were dictating the game, but we obviously need to do it more often in every game in order to win the series.”
After getting shut out 1-0, despite outshooting Edmonton 33-13 in Game 4, the Kings were looking for a bounce to go their way, and they got that on Laferriere’s first-career playoff goal.
After Vladislav Gavrikov dump in took a weird bounce off the glass, the puck swung onto the stick of the Kings rookie, who had a wide open net with Skinner out of position.
That goal made it 1-1, and after killing off an Oilers power play early in the second period and Lizotte gave them the lead, it looked like the momentum may be swinging back in the favor of the Kings, but then the penalty trouble started, and it gave Edmonton life and the Kings were forced to scratch and claw their way back with their playoff lives on the line.
“Whether they were penalties or not, the bottom line is we have to get the job done on special teams and we didn’t do it throughout the five games,” Kopitar said.
Losing in the playoffs sting, and the Kings have lost three straight years to the Kings. In 2022, the series went seven games. Last year, they lost in six, and this year, the series went five games.
“Obviously it makes you want to beat them more, but the point is we lost three years in a row in the first round,” Doughty said. “Yeah, it’s against Edmonton, but it doesn’t matter who you lost to, it’s the same amount of disappointment in wanting to win the series.
“Obviously we got to win a playoff round. That was our goal this year. I think we gave them a harder challenge last year, which is unfortunate, but we have to work hard in the offseason again and come back stronger and use this experience and these last experiences as motivation and try to win a series.”
