In the opening game of their Western Conference first-round playoff series, the Edmonton Oilers outplayed the Los Angeles Kings in every aspect to secure a 7-4 victory.
The Oilers’ dominance was evident early on as they established a 4-0 lead by the game’s midway point. The Kings managed to pull within two by the second intermission, but costly penalties in the third period allowed Edmonton to extend their lead with a pair of power-play goals.
Connor McDavid, the Oilers’ captain, played a pivotal role in the win, recording five assists to become only the 13th player in NHL history to achieve that feat in a playoff game. Zach Hyman also impressed with a hat trick and four-point performance. Evan Bouchard contributed four assists, while Leon Draisaitl and Adam Henrique each recorded a goal and an assist.
The Kings, despite surrendering a pair of late goals that flattered their final score, were clearly outplayed by the Oilers. Coach Jim Hiller acknowledged that the team’s performance fell short and emphasized the need for improvement in Game 2.
“We have to put it behind us and learn from what we did wrong and fix what we did wrong and bring it into the next game,” said Kings’ defenseman Drew Doughty. “That’s not our model. That’s not the way we play. It’s frustrating. We just have to put that game in the past and get back to doing what we do best.”
The Oilers, on the other hand, were pleased with their performance, particularly their structured play and ability to take an early lead.
“Starts are really important, especially against a team as well-structured defensively as the Kings are,” said McDavid. “It helps if you can score the first one, and it kind of forces them to open up a little bit.”
As the series shifts to Edmonton for Game 2 on Wednesday, the Kings will be looking to bounce back and level the series. The Oilers, meanwhile, will be aiming to capitalize on their home-ice advantage and take a commanding 2-0 lead.
