The three-game losing streak is over, as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 4-2 on Monday night.
Heading into the game, the Oilers were 0-2-1 in their past three, including a defeat at the hands of their provincial rival. So, what went down, and what led to the Oilers win?
Well, it wasn’t a great start for the Oilers, as the Kings picked up a goal on a defensive breakdown from the Darnell Nurse and Cody Ceci pairing. The shot from the point took a wicked bounce, Ceci followed his man to the left side of the ice, while Derek Ryan was late picking up Quinton Byfield. As the King was on the side of the net, he funnelled it to the front of the net, where the two defencemen were scrambling. Not a great goal to concede.
trevor moore gives the kings a 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/PlXQ4RtRTO
— zach (@zjlaing) February 27, 2024
Thankfully, the Oilers got back in it with a last-minute goal, as the Kings had a defensive breakdown of their own. Connor McDavid found Zach Hyman at the faceoff dot, and Hyman made no mistake with the one-timer for a goal in his fifth straight game. With that goal, Hyman now extends his career-high with 38 goals in 55 games. Connor McDavid picked up the lone assist.
a late period goal from zach hyman ties it up at one. pic.twitter.com/FX4hXuICNA
— zach (@zjlaing) February 27, 2024
The Kings once again took the lead in nearly the same minute as their first goal. This time, Evan Bouchard made a bad pinch and Mattias Ekholm overcommitted, leaving Alex Laferriere all alone in front of the goal, giving the Kings a 2-1 lead.
alex laferriere makes it 2-1 for the kings. pic.twitter.com/rpCvJXwijm
— zach (@zjlaing) February 27, 2024
Never fear, as the Oilers scored a goal on the power play within the final five minutes of the period. Draisaitl matched the number on his back with his 29th goal, but it wasn’t his typical goal on the power play (one-time from the dot), as he redirected a Bouchard shot to tie the game. Draisaitl had a rough game on Saturday, but he was excellent tonight. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Bouchard (obviously) picked up the assists.
goal number 29 for 29. pic.twitter.com/Caq7hMBPqk
— zach (@zjlaing) February 27, 2024
The game was once again tied heading into the third period, Edmonton’s best period in recent weeks. This time, the Oilers scored the first goal of the period just after the minute mark, as Bouchard unleashed a patented “Bouchbomb” for the lead, with the Oilers never looking back. McDavid and Draisaitl picked up the two assists on this goal.
evan bouchard has no regards for this pucks life or the fact it had a family, scoring his 15th goal of the season. pic.twitter.com/74IsQ2Hrmt
— zach (@zjlaing) February 27, 2024
Edmonton got an insurance marker late in the third period, as the makeshift line of Mattias Janmark, Nugent-Hopkins, and Connor Brown combined for the Oilers fourth goal. Janmark made a great play to kick it to Nugent-Hopkins, who dropped it to Brown and gave it back to Nugent-Hopkins for the latter’s 16th of the season. This was Brown’s first point in 12 games, but he’s still been a positive player once you look past the lack of goals.
ryan nugent-hopkins with the dagger. 4-2 oilers. pic.twitter.com/GHNpH3hIBk
— zach (@zjlaing) February 27, 2024
Oilers win 4-2.
Solid bounce game from Skinner stopping 38 of 40 shots.
Draisaitl, RNH, Bouchard and McDavid each with two points.
Slow start, but game changed in second period when PK had back-to-back kills. Got Oilers going.
Step in right direction for Edmonton defensively.— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) February 27, 2024
After the defeat to the Vegas Golden Knights, Stuart Skinner had six consecutive games with a sub .900 save percentage. In that stretch, he had an .858 save percentage and a 2-3-1 record. That ended on Monday night, as he stopped 38 of 40 shots for a .950 save percentage.
Bouchard’s goal tonight was his 15th of the season. On top of that, he’s moved into a tie with the Calgary Flames’ MacKenzie Weegar for the most goals by a defenceman. He made a bad decision on the Kings’ second goal, but he had a great game overall.
Connor Brown still hasn’t scored a goal yet this season but he’s been contributing lately. He picked up an assist on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ goal and now has a point in each of his last four games.
The season series between the two teams now favours Edmonton, as the Oilers have two wins and the Kings have one. The Kings and Oilers will meet for the final time in the regular season in Edmonton on March 28. Will they meet in the playoffs for a third consecutive year?
Up next… The Oilers will host the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday. The Oilers will have the advantage in that one as the Blues will be playing on Tuesday night in Winnipeg against the Jets and then they’ll have to take the bus all the way to Edmonton. It’s a tough ride, especially in this weather!
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