Quick, L.A. Kings outlast Edmonton Oilers for 4-3 win in Game 1

EDMONTON

An error made late in the playoffs proved costly for Edmonton Oilers, who began their run on Monday. Now, the team is trying to learn from its mistakes. 

“Playoffs are a long journey. There will be ups as well as downs,” Mike Smith, goalie saidThe Oilers fell to 4-3 to the L.A. Kings in Game 1, of the first round series. “It’s how you deal with it that makes you good or makes you a team that’s watching from the sidelines.”

Edmonton recovered from a defeat in the first period and was tied at 3-3 going into the third. 

The Kings won the game with less than five minutes to go.

Smith attempted to clear the puck behind the net but instead put it on Alex Iafallo’s stick in front. Although the netminder made a diving stop, the puck was not captured by Alex Iafallo. Shortly after Sean Druzi ripped a long ball that Philip Danault tipped in in front of it. 

“I was just trying to make something happen,” Smith said. “Obviously, trying to do too many there. In a tight game like that, you can’t afford to make mistakes like that. It cost us the game. Obviously disappointed, but it’s one game and we move on.”

Danualt and Trevor Moore scored goals and each had assists for L.A. Brandon Lemieux added a goal. 

Kailier Yamamoto and Connor McDavid responded with a goal each, and Leon Draisaitl added a power-play goal. 

Jonathan Quick, L.A. goalie made 35 saves in the win. Smith stopped 31-of 35 shots.

The game was an excellent example of how the Kings’ coach Todd McLellan has been playing recently. He said that it was an example of how his team plays, with good goaltending, good checking and players making the most of their chances. 

“We played in our skin, we played to our identity, just a carbon copy of how we’ve done it,” he said. 

Oilers finished the regular season in second place in the Pacific Division with a record of 49-27-6. To earn home ice advantage, fans responded by packing Rogers Place. They brought along shiny copper-coloured pom poms and packed Rogers Place. 

Edmonton fell 2-0 midway through its first period. said McDavid. 

“There’s lots of emotion with fans back in the building and I thought we just didn’t handle it all that well,” he said. “(The Kings), got the jump on Us.” 

Moore scored the opening goal 11 minutes into the game, taking a shot from the inside of the face-off circle and ripping it over Smith’s glove. 

Iafallo was then set up by Moore to give L.A. an early 2-0 lead at 16:52 in the first. Moore placed Iafallo below the goal line and sent him a back-to-back pass to Iafallo, who quickly put it in the Oilers’ net. 

Edmonton cut the deficit before the end of the opening frame with another highlight-reel-worthy goal from McDavid. 

The captain of the Oilers sprinted along the length of the ice, avoiding several Kings defenders and then fired a snap past Quick to make it 2:1. It was only 42 seconds into the first. 

Chants of M-V-P M-V-P!” The boisterous crowd followed. McDavid was awarded his fourth Art Ross Trophy after a record-setting 123 points in the league.  

After Iafallo’s trip, the Oilers tied the score with a power play marker.

Duncan Keith shot a long-range shot, and Yamamoto hit it from the backdoor 2:39 into this period. 

The score did not stay tied at 2-2 for too long. Lemieux sent a shot sailing off the top of faceoff circle in a rush at 3:50 into second to restore Kings’ lead. 

Edmonton scored another power-play goal midway through the second period, after Iafallo was cross-checked. 

McDavid sent a pass from the boards, with the puck hitting a slot broken stick. Draisaitl then settled the matter and shot a quick shot past Quick 9 minutes into the second. 

Edmonton was 2 for 4, with the man advantage, on Monday. L.A. was 0, for 4.

Oilers are now in the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive season, but their run last year was short. Edmonton was eliminated in round one by the Winnipeg Jets with a sweep of four games.

Smith says that the group has learned from past mistakes. said. 

“It’s a different team. We’re feeling good about where we’re at. It’s a game of inches,” he said. “A mistake here and there tonight and it’s a different game. We learn from it, move on and worry about Game 2 now.”

Game 2 will be played Wednesday in Edmonton. For Game 3, the series moves to Los Angeles. 

NOTES: After missing four games due to a knee injury, Darnell Nurse was back in the Oilers’ lineup. … Viktor Arvidsson left practice early Saturday to play for the Kings. In 66 games, the winger scored 49 points (21 goals, 29 assists). … Monday marked the first playoff game between the Oilers and Kings since 1992 when Edmonton bested L.A. in a six-game series in the division semifinals. 

This report was published by The Canadian Press May 2, 2022.