Los Angeles, CA - The Los Angeles Kings (1-0) go up against the Edmonton Oilers (0-1) in Game 2 of the First Round Series in the Stanley Cup at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday, April 23.
As the Kings ready up for Game 2 of this series, they hope to clean up mistakes left on the ice from Game 1 - notably, a couple of miscommunications and key power play penalty errors which drove a lot of the Oilers' momentum as they went on to tie the game at 5-5.
The LA Kings see this second game as a must win priority. Winning on home ice has been a strength for this team, and has been one of the few things to pass over from the regular season.
The offense has woken up for the Kings, and yet their defense against a mighty Oiler team hungry to sweep the Kings four years in a row have been a clear weakness.
The talk of the town has been Kings left wing Andrei Kuzmenko, scoring the first goal in Game 1 and also being a perfect glue for this Kings' playoff run
FIRST PERIOD
The Kings start the game with control of the puck, and both teams are hungry for goals. Both teams share possession of the puck, yet they continue to battle for puck control. Notably, going into this game, Edmonton's speed on the ice has been a nuisance for the LA Kings during their scoring drives in Game 1, but at the same time Los Angeles had five different people score for the team. Everyone will be needed to stop this speedy Oiler squad.
As the first half of the first period comes around, the Oilers commit the first penalty of the game - cross checking - which gives LA their first power play to make some magic. Despite a close call, nothing comes from this. Oiler goaltender Stuart Skinner stops the momentum for a bit.
AS I SAY THAT, THE KINGS RUSH THE OILER NET NEAR THE END OF THE POWER PLAY, AND DEFENSEMAN BRANDT CLARKE LANDS THE WRIST SHOT SCORING HIS FIRST CAREER PLAYOFF GOAL, 1-0!
Now, as the second half of the first period begins, Edmonton catch their first break when left wing Kevin Fiala gets caught high sticking, and the Oilers get their first power play.
Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper saves the puck for LA during the Oiler push, and Los Angeles successfully burn time off of their power play.
As the latter half of the second period skates by, both teams battle for opportunities onto their opponents' net. Kuemper and Skinner both have had close saves.
At the 1:50 point, Los Angeles make their second penalty of the game - right wing Quinton Byfield committing a minor against Oiler center Connor McDavid, who scored four points in Game 1. Edmonton waste no time shooting at the LA net, but the Kings have killed the Oilers chances by shooting the puck away from the Los Angeles zone.
Despite the Oilers outshooting the Kings 11-6, Los Angeles stay on top of their competition 1-0 going into the second period.
SECOND PERIOD
As the second period begins, the power play Edmonton had near the very end of the first period comes to a close within the first five seconds. Both teams make strong efforts to control the puck, but the Kings fight the good fight and keep the aggression in the Edmonton zone.
KINGS RIGHT QUINTON BYFIELD GOES WILD AND MAKES GOOD USE OF A LOOSE PUCK AND KNOCKS IT IN WITH A WRIST SHOT, MAKING IT 2-0!
Edmonton look shell-shocked at this moment, seeing Byfield's excellent shot make it in. Their defense are starting to show more cracks, as one of the Oilers' players gives up their second penalty of the game - slashing - to grant the Kings another power play to make some more noise at Crypto.com Arena.
With that being said, as the Kings make their push onto the Oiler net, Kings right wing Adrian Kempe commits the third penalty of the game - interference - evening the playing field with a 4v4 on the ice.
Edmonton make no use of their power play advantage.
As the first half of the second period comes to a close, Edmonton commit their second penalty of the period - hooking - to grant LA another power play. Los Angeles push forward onto the Oiler net with a confident aggression, and almost get the puck in.
ANDREI KUZMENKO IS DOING UNBELIEVEABLE THINGS ON THE RINK, LANDING A WRIST SHOT AND MAKING IT A 3-0 GAME FOR LA
Los Angeles have made great use of their power play opportunities this game, and have built a 3-0 lead for the second time this series.
However, Edmonton have finally broken through this game with a clean wrist shot into the LA net by Oiler center Leon Draisaitl to make it a 3-1 game.
The Oilers have woken up their aggression, but the Kings match it as both teams fight for the puck. This back-and-forth goes on towards the end of the second period. The Kings show more attempts on the Oiler net, outshooting Edmonton 15-9 in this second period and keeping their opponents on their toes.
THIRD PERIOD
The Kings begin the third period, and both teams battle for the hockey puck. Los Angeles maintain possession of the puck throughout their pushes into Edmonton's zone, but have yet to find the opportunity. Kuzmenko ALMOST sneaks one in, but misses his chance.
On the flip side, Edmonton left wing Viktor Arvidsson opens the period with a goal off of a perfectly placed tip in shot into the LA net, scoring and keeping it within one 3-2.
The Kings play on thin margins, and the Oilers remind both Los Angeles and the home crowd that they are indeed in the building ready to win...
The LA Kings maintain pressure on Edmonton as a result, not letting up.
THIS PRESSURE PAYS OFF AS ADRIAN KEMPE SCORES HIS SECOND GOAL OF THIS SERIES, MAKING IT 4-2
Right after this scoring drive, the Oilers commit another penalty - roughing - to grant the Kings their fourth power play opportunity tonight.
AND THEY GO BACK TO BACK AS CENTER ANZE KOPITAR MAKES IT A 5-2 REPEAT BOX SCORE FOR LA, SCORING HIS FIRST GOAL THIS POSTSEASON!
This makes it the Kings' third power play goal tonight, which is an impressive display for Los Angeles among their most recent postseason performances, where power plays from Edmonton have cost the Kings significantly.
ADRIAN KEMPE IS A BEAUTIFUL MAN, SCORING THE MOST POINTS IN KINGS HISTORY IN THE FIRST TWO GAMES IN THE POSTSEASON (7) AND SCORING AGAIN, 6-2
The Kings' offense have been electric during the third period and have learned from Game 1, playing much better defense and matching the Oilers' speed.
Edmonton give up yet another penalty - misconduct - to make it their fifth penalty this game, gifting LA another power play opportunity. This time, though, the Kings don't make use of their power play, but they do manage to burn more time off the clock.
As the third period comes to a close, it becomes apparent that the Oilers have made more mistakes and penalties than the Kings, which they have been happy to take advantage of. The Oilers whimper near the end, and the Kings win the second game convincingly, 6-2 .
This team learned, and they look good on the ice.
Indeed, the Kings winning a must-win game on home ice to take it to the Oilers grants them a lot of momentum in the series as it heads to Edmonton. While the Kings have a lot to prove on the road and have nowhere near as clean of a road advantage as they do home ice advantage, this win is a good blueprint for the Kings to bounce off of as they head up north.