Leon Draisaitl, Oilers eliminate Kings ... again

 

[May 02, 2024]  Leon Draisaitl scored twice as the host Edmonton Oilers eliminated the Los Angeles Kings with a 4-3 victory on Wednesday in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Evander Kane and Zach Hyman also scored and goalie Stuart Skinner made 18 saves for the Oilers, who dispatched the Kings in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive year.

"They're always extremely hard to play against," Draisaitl said to Sportsnet. "Certainly don't make it easy on you. Hats off to that group, we've battled them a lot over the last couple of years. It's a great team over there, but so are we.

"I thought we did a good job this series sticking to our game plan, and we move on."

Edmonton's Evan Bouchard collected three assists while Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins both netted two helpers.

The Oilers will face either the Vancouver Canucks or Nashville Predators in the Western Conference semifinals. Vancouver leads that best-of-seven series 3-2.

Alex Laferriere, Blake Lizotte and Adrian Kempe replied for the Kings. Goalie David Rittich stopped 22 shots and Matt Roy notched two assists.

With his team trailing 2-1, Draisaitl netted a power-play goal -- Edmonton's ninth of the series -- to tie the score 2-2 at 7:44 of the second period. Rittich appeared to make a diving glove save, but a review showed his glove ended up going behind the line when he caught the puck.

"It is a pretty easy write up on this series," said Kings coach Jim Hiller. "One team performed on special teams and one didn't."

L.A. failed to score a single power-play goal (0-for-12) and the Oilers scored nine in five games (9-for-20).

Draisaitl produced his second of the night and fifth of the series at 12:21 of the middle period. His quick shot from the bottom of the right circle seconds after a power play expired gave Edmonton the lead for good.

May 1, 2024; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) and Los Angeles Kings defensemen Drew Doughty (8) battle for a loose puck during the first period in game five of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

"It's fun. I like helping my team win and when it matters most," said Draisaitl. "It's always been my goal to be a big-time player, and for the most part, I think I've done that in my career. Hopefully I can keep that going."

Hyman made it a 4-2 count with another goal right after an expired Kings penalty, his seventh of the playoffs. Bouchard's point shot deflected off a couple of players, and Hyman slipped the loose puck into the net with 52.9 seconds remaining in the middle frame.

Kempe's deflection goal halved the deficit with 2:18 remaining in the third period, but the Kings could not find the equalizer after blowing an early lead.

Despite Los Angeles holding the early momentum, Kane opened the scoring just past the midway point of the first period, converting a soft shot from the slot that Rittich misplayed.

Laferriere's first career playoff goal tied the clash with 28 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Skinner left his net to play Vladislav Gavrikov's dump-in, but the puck ricocheted off a stanchion to the front of the net for Laferriere to bury.

Lizotte put the Kings ahead 3:08 into the second period with his first career playoff tally, finding the mark with a quick shot from his off-wing. However, the visitors could not build on the lead before penalty troubles sealed their fate.

--Field Level Media

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