Following an early second-period goal from Blake Lizotte, it appeared the Los Angeles Kings might inject some intrigue into the series. However, the Edmonton Oilers’ star players had different ideas.
For the remainder of the period, the Oilers’ renowned offense showcased its vintage form. Leon Draisaitl scored two consecutive goals, while Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard each contributed a pair of assists during that stretch. By the end of the period, Edmonton held a 4-2 lead heading into the final period and seemed destined for the second round.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also tallied two assists, one on Evander Kane’s opening goal and the other on Zach Hyman’s final goal in the flurry of second-period scoring.
The third period was relatively quiet for the first 18 minutes. There were no goals until the Kings pulled their goalie and scored with just over two minutes left, making it a one-goal game. Apart from a last-second hooking penalty to prevent Draisaitl from securing a hat trick with an empty-net goal, there were no other penalties in the period. It was a calm night overall for Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner, who only faced 18 shots to secure the win.
The Oilers had the special teams advantage in this game, successfully killing off two penalties and converting one of their five power plays. Although slightly less efficient than their usual elite standard, it proved to be enough to advance.
With this series wrapped up in five games, the Oilers will enjoy a rest advantage as they await the winner of the Canucks-Predators series, where Vancouver currently leads 3-2.
MCDAVID AND DRAISAITL. THAT IS ALL. pic.twitter.com/cAPTYoWUuV
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 2, 2024
Edmonton aims to ride its highly talented offense deep into the playoffs, seeking the first Stanley Cup Finals appearance of the McDavid-Draisaitl era and the franchise’s first since 2006.
Meanwhile, the Kings suffer their third consecutive first-round exit and their fifth straight postseason without advancing. Their last trip to the second round was in 2014 when they won the Stanley Cup. It will be a challenging offseason as they aim to make adjustments to the roster and avoid a fate akin to the Toronto Maple Leafs.