Follow me on Twitter:
@BenShelley_20
Follow HockeyBuzz Kings on Twitter:
@HB_LAKings
The Los Angeles Kings dropped their first game since the All-Star Break, losing 5-2 to the Edmonton Oilers last night.
The Kings weren’t able to get off to the same strong start as normal, after Olli Maatta took a double minor high-sticking penalty, though the Kings did manage to kill it off. Then after Cal Petersen made some key saves and Los Angeles started to generate chances of their own, Arthur Kaliyev opened the scoring, somehow beating Mike Smith with a weak redirection. As a result, the Kings held a 1-0 lead, following a stronger back half of the frame.
The Oilers were the better team in the second period, outshooting the Kings 12-8 and really limiting any chances for Los Angeles. It took until late in the period for Edmonton to tie it, as Connor McDavid cut to the net and despite Petersen making multiple saves, he managed to slide the puck in. Los Angeles did actually rally for some good chances late in the frame, but Smith came up big to keep the game at 1-1.
Edmonton took the lead in the third period, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins buried a loose puck in front, but the Kings managed to tie it up a few minutes later, with Phillip Danault scoring off a pass from Viktor Arvidsson. With under five minutes to go, however, Leon Draisaitl got the puck out front to Kailer Yamamoto, who put it past Petersen to make it a 3-2 game. The Oilers added two empty net goals after that, taking a 5-2 win.
Despite the Kings outshooting the Oilers, it seemed like their quality chances came in flurries and they didn’t necessarily have sustained pressure often. While they did kill off four penalties, they also went 0-for-5 on their opportunities, which was a factor in the loss.
The Kings were still very much in the game but they weren’t the better team last night. With the loss, the Kings now sit ninth in the Western Conference in points percentage.
Los Angeles’ next game comes on Friday, when they kick off a four-game road trip against the Vegas Golden Knights.
***NOTE: We've launched a HockeyBuzz Kings Twitter account! For anyone interested, you can follow
@HB_LAKings for updates on articles, Kings news, etc.***
Create Polls
OTHER ARTICLES FROM FEBRUARY
Kings beat Red Wings to finish off successful road trip 
Los Angeles Kings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»