Sunday night, the Los Angeles Kings were in full control through two periods of Game 4 at Rogers Place Arena in Edmonton, but a third-period collapse and a costly overtime penalty saw their 3-1 lead vanish in a 4-3 loss to the Oilers. Their first-round playoff series is now deadlocked at two games apiece.
Trevor Moore opened the scoring for LA midway through the first period, capping off a strong start where they dictated pace and possessed the puck with confidence. Moore’s line continued to apply pressure early in the second frame when former Oilers forward Warren Foegele added to the Kings lead.
Though Edmonton responded with a goal of their own, Kevin Fiala restored the two-goal cushion in the second period, finishing off a slick play to give the Kings a 3-1 edge heading into the final period of regulation.
Momentum shifted quickly in the third frame. The Kings began sitting back – an approach they also utilized in game three – and focused on defense, rather than pushing for more insurance. A series of missed empty net shots and failed zone exits led to mounting Oilers pressure and eventually, the tying goal with under 30 seconds remaining on the clock.
In overtime, the Kings continued their conservative, defense-first approach, but a late penalty ultimately cost them the game. Over the past two contests, LA’s penalty kill has slipped to just 20%, indicating that special teams can either make or break this tight series.
Game 5 is set for Tuesday night in Downtown LA, where the home team has won every game so far in this series. Now tied 2-2, it’s become a best-of-three battle to advance to Round 2.
Full highlights of Game 4 are available here:
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