CONTACT US

Contact Form

    News Details

    Kings eliminated from playoffs after Game 6 loss to Oilers
    • April 30, 2023

    Fans reach out as Goalie Joonas Korpisalo #70 of Los Angeles Kings walks onto the ice prior to taking on Edmonton Oilers during game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Kailer Yamamoto #56 of the Edmonton Oilers is mobbed by teammates after scoring against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Phillip Danault #24 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates after scoring against goalie Stuart Skinner (not pictured)of the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Phillip Danault #24 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates after scoring against goalie Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Goalie Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers on the ice after giving up a goal to Phillip Danault (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Phillip Danault #24 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates after scoring against goalie Stuart Skinner (not pictured) of the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Phillip Danault #24 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates with teammates after scoring against goalie Stuart Skinner (not pictured)of the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Alex Iafallo #19 of the Los Angeles Kings takes a shot against goalie Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers as Mattias Ekholm #14 defends during the third period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Phillip Danault #24 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates after scoring against goalie Stuart Skinner (not pictured) of the Edmonton Oilers during the third period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Alex Iafallo #19 of the Los Angeles Kings takes a shot against goalie Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers as Mattias Ekholm #14 defends during the third period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Blake Lizotte #47 of the Los Angeles Kings is tripped up by Klim Kostin #21 of the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Sean Durzi #50 of the Los Angeles Kings is mobbed by teammates after scoring against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates with teammates Zach Hyman#18 and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 after scoring as Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings looks away during the second period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates with teammate Amze Kopitar #11 after scoring on a power play against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Connor McDavid ( not pictured) of the Edmonton Oilers scores past Goalie Joonas Korpisalo #70 of Los Angeles Kings during the first period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers controls the puck past Carl Grundstrom #91 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Kings fans celebrate after a goal by Kevin Fiala (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Kings against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Leon Draisaitl (not pictured) of the Edmonton Oilers scores past goalie Joonas Korpisalo #70 of the Los Angeles Kings looks away during the second period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Head coach Todd McLellan, right, of the Los Angeles Kings looks on against of the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Young fans look on as goalie Phoenix Copley #29 of the Los Angeles Kings skates past prior to game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Los Angeles Kings fans wearing “Believe” jerseys look on during warmups prior to game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Los Angeles Kings fans wearing giant crowns look on during warmups prior to game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts with teammates after scoring against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Kevin Fiala #22 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates with teammate Drew Doughty #8 after scoring on a power play against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates with teammates Zach Hyman#18 and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #93 after scoring as Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings looks away during the second period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Goalie Joonas Korpisalo #70 of Los Angeles Kings after giving up a goal to Klim Kostin (not pictured) of the Edmonton Oilers as teammates Brett Kulak #27 and Derek Ryan #10 react during the first period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Goalie Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers blocks shot by Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Alex Iafallo #19 of the Los Angeles Kings controls the puck against of the Edmonton Oilers during the first period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Goalie Stuart Skinner #70 of the Edmonton Oilers blocks a Los Angeles Kings shot on goal during the second period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Head coach Jay Woodcroft of the Edmonton Oilers looks on against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Klim Kostin #21 of the Edmonton Oilers reacts with teammate Kailer Yamamoto #56 after scoring against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    Connor McDavid ( not pictured) of the Edmonton Oilers scores past Goalie Joonas Korpisalo #70 of Los Angeles Kings during the first period in game 6 of a first round NHL Western Conference playoff hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

    of

    Expand

    LOS ANGELES –– The beautiful dream that was the Kings’ campaign has ended, smited for the second straight season by the Edmonton Oilers, who prevailed 5-4 Saturday at Crypto.com Arena to eliminate the Kings in six games.

    It was a first-round series whose intensity may not be matched even by seven-game affairs in the later stages of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, wherein lead changes abounded and one-goal games were the standard.

    Winger Kevin Fiala spearheaded the attack with a goal and two primary assists. Winger Adrian Kempe, defenseman Sean Durzi and center Phillip Danault also scored goals, while winger Viktor Arvidsson added two assists. Joonas Korpisalo made 21 saves in his sixth consecutive start.

    Edmonton winger Kailer Yamamoto scored the series winner and had an assist on the Oilers’ prior goal. Forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl combined for three points. Depth forward Klim Kostin matched their production, racking up two goals and an assist. Defenseman Evan Bouchard remained hot with two more assists. Stuart Skinner brushed off a late blunder and stopped 40 shots.

    With 3:02 to play, Yamamoto put the Oilers ahead for good, potting his first goal of the postseason in timely fashion.

    Though the two precise power plays on display the story of the series and the game, and rightfully so, it was a major gaffe that led to a shorthanded goal. Skinner played the puck directly to Danault all alone in front of the Edmonton net, where he summarily deposited the puck to push the score to 4-4.

    Edmonton had gone into the second intermission with a 4-3 lead thanks to Kostin’s second tally, with 9:06 left in the second period. A Kings turnover in their own zone led to a sterling bid for Kailer Yamamoto, which left a rebound the Kostin stuffed home.

    At the 8:16 mark of the middle frame, Fiala, who’d earned the primary assists on the Kings’ first two goals, left the game knotted anew with a power-play goal, a shot from the top of the left circle that was deflected upon release by Edmonton’s Nick Bjugstad. The two clubs combined to cash in on three of four extra-man opportunities through 40 minutes.

    The Kings halved their deficit 6:36 into the second stanza with another man-advantage marker. Arvidsson and Fiala switched positions in one faceoff circle before Fiala fired a pass across to the other for a snipe from Kempe. Kempe has at least one point in each game of the series and eight overall.

    Edmonton took a two-goal lead on its first power-play opportunity of the evening, on which they summarily pushed their conversion rate to 60%. It was McDavid whipping a pass from the left faceoff dot to the right, where Draisaitl one-timed his NHL-topping seventh goal of the playoffs.

    The first of Kostin’s goals came 12:12 into the first period when he pushed across the slot, letting fly with a searing wrist shot from between the circles to reclaim the lead.

    Though Edmonton and McDavid scored first, the Kings were able to turn his next push up the ice into an odd-man rush that nearly resulted in an Alex Iafallo goal, then stone McDavid’s shot off a two-on-one rush that Vladislav Gavrikov defended in exemplary fashion. Soon after, they were off on another counterattack, this one resulting in an equalizer 8:13 into the game.

    A shot block by Quinton Byfield started the rush, which concluded when Fiala located a trailing Durzi for his goal through a Gabe Vilardi screen.

    The Kings survived the first offensive from McDavid but couldn’t withstand the second. Evander Kane recovered McDavid’s initial shot, moving the puck for a D-to-D exchange and a shot by Evan Bouchard, which McDavid tipped home. It was goal No. 3 for McDavid in the series, all of which he has scored on the road, and it came 85 seconds into the match.

    Related Articles

    Los Angeles Kings |


    Kings’ Quinton Byfield remains in spotlight

    Los Angeles Kings |


    4 keys to the Kings defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6

    Los Angeles Kings |


    Jeremy Roenick breaks down Kings vs. Edmonton going into Game 6

    Los Angeles Kings |


    Kings get needed extended rest before Game 6 with Edmonton

    Los Angeles Kings |


    Balanced Oilers pounce on Kings’ miscues for 3-2 series lead

    ​ Orange County Register 

    News