If Game 1 was any indication of what’s to come, the Kings and Oilers first round series could be an exhilarating series. If this article was written 40 minutes into Game 1, it likely would have been an entirely different story. That didn’t happen, though — so here we are.
After complete domination at both ends of the ice, somehow the Kings allowed the Oilers to crawl back into the game on Monday night and make things a little more interesting than LA coach Jim Hiller would have preferred. Nonetheless, they escaped with a victory and will now look to take an important 2-0 series lead before heading off to Edmonton tomorrow.
In order to do so, it will take the proverbial 60-minute effort from every single individual on the Kings roster. What all involved should have learned Monday night is that Connor McDavid is capable of doing it all by himself, if needed.
While some of the Oilers could have potentially gained confidence watching McDavid dig his team out of a three-goal deficit in the third period, there’s also the flip side to that coin. Despite a Superman-like effort from Edmonton’s captain, LA still found a way to win. They made a few mistakes while defending a two-man advantage for the Oilers — and somehow LA missed out on scoring into an empty net three different times, which would have iced the game.
Either way, for LA, it’s now about adjusting; Hiller will want to prevent his team from even being in that position again.
No matter how you look at things, tonight is sure to bring some fireworks (after all, it is the playoffs). Who will Edmonton start in goal given the struggles of Stuart Skinner? How will Darcy Kuemper respond after giving up five goals for the first time in what seems like forever? A lot of questions, not many answers until puck drop in Game 2.
Kings Of The Podcast dropped an all-new episode over the weekend featuring an in-depth playoff preview and predictions segment, along with some great stories from Hall of Fame broadcaster Nick Nickson. Check it out here:
Statistically Speaking
— Phil Danault scored with 42 seconds remaining in regulation of Game 1, marking the latest playoff go-ahead goal in Kings history, besting the previous mark set by Trevor Lewis during Game 2 of 2013 Conference Semifinals (58:39).
— Anze Kopitar sits one playoff goal shy of tying Jeff Carter (26) and Dave Taylor (26) for the third-most playoff goals in franchise history. He is also set to play in his 99th career Stanley Cup Playoff contest.
— With his first period goal 2:49 into Game 1, Andrei Kuzmenko scored the Kings’ fastest game-opening goal in the playoffs since Marian Gaborik (0:34) in Game 2 of the 2014 Second Round (per NHL PR).
— The Kings look to win Game 2 of the first round for the second straight year, winning 5-4 in overtime on April 24, 2024 in Edmonton.
— The Kings are 1-0 when this happens in the playoffs (and 2-0 overall, including their win over Boston during the regular season):
Kings Projected Lineup vs. Oilers
If there are any key changes during pregame warmups, this article will be updated.
Kuzmenko – Kopitar – Kempe
Fiala – Byfield – Laferriere
Foegele – Danault – Moore
Malott – Helenius – Turcotte
Anderson – Doughty
Gavrikov – Spence
Edmundson – Clarke
Kuemper (starter)
Rittich
Likely scratches: (F) Lewis, Thomas and (D) Burroughs, Moverare and (G) George
Injured: Jeannot, not skating yet, officially week-to-week (initially reported as out for extended time period)
Key Game Info
Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm Pacific Time and will be televised locally by FanDuel Sports Network. Additionally, a Kings radio feed is available on the ESPN LA app (which is the new home for Kings radio this season, they’ve moved off of the iHeart platform).
More on the ongoing TV situation here.
For those live in attendance, the LA Kings Booster Club will offer their popular ‘Puck for a Buck’ contest — featuring Quinton Byfield for this game. Just $1 could win you an autographed puck from an NHL star. Visit their table outside sections 317-318 on the upper concourse for more information.
Across the Ice
Here is how Edmonton is projected to lineup tonight:
Hyman – McDavid – Brown
Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Arvidsson
Skinner – RNH – Henrique
Perry – Janmark – Kapanen
Nurse – Bouchard
Kulak – Walman
Emberson – Klingberg
Skinner
On This Day in Kings History
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