April 25, 2024 by Michael Hebert

The Los Angeles Kings edged the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 in overtime to clinch Game 2. The Kings surged ahead early to a 3-1 lead, only to see the Oilers rally to level the score at 3-3 by the second intermission. In the third period, Kevin Fiala’s goal put the Kings ahead, but the Oilers responded with Dylan Holloway scoring his second of the game to even the score once more. Ultimately, Anze Kopitar sealed the win for the Kings, finding the top corner just over two minutes into overtime. The series is now tied at one game apiece as the teams head to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Friday.

Call Outs:

Stuart Skinner had a challenging night in net for the Edmonton Oilers, saving only 21 of 26 shots in their overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings. With his performance marking the second consecutive game allowing four or more goals, Skinner will need to elevate his game as the series progresses if the Oilers hope to advance.

Meanwhile, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins struggled to make an impact, finding himself and his line frequently outchanced by the Kings. The lack of synergy with Leon Draisaitl, which has been crucial to his success in the top six, was noticeably absent, contributing to a disappointing performance for the Oilers forward. The team will look for both players to step up in Game 3 as the series shifts to Los Angeles.

Stand Outs:

Dylan Holloway’s rise is stand out worthy, having recently returned from honing his skills with the Oilers’ farm team in Bakersfield. Despite limited ice time in the first two playoff games, Holloway made his presence felt, scoring two crucial goals to keep the Oilers competitive through three periods. His aggressive forechecking and solid hits have made him noticeable through both games.

Zach Hyman continues his goal scoring and solid play for the Oilers, finding the net in both games of the series. His toughness on the puck and tenacity in the corners have showcased Hyman’s versatility. Proving again, he’s not a flash in the pan, Hyman scored from a new angle tonight. Although the line of Hyman, McDavid, and Adam Henrique faced offense challenges at even strength, they managed the most high-danger chances for the team, and also notably no high-danger chances against while on the ice.

For the Los Angeles Kings, Adrian Kempe was pivotal, netting two goals and maintaining his aggressive scoring streak against the Oilers. Goalie Cam Talbot, despite a less than stellar performance overall, delivered when it mattered most. He made critical saves during an Oilers’ power play, a great stretch to intercept a potential goal with a glove save at the top of the crease on a “Bouch Bomb”. Then later in the power play, making a key save against Leon Draisaitl that was the result of another brilliant effort by Connor McDavid.

Recent: Call Outs, Stand Outs, and Shout Outs: Oilers Defeat Kings 7-4 in Game 1

Shout Outs:

On a night when the Edmonton Oilers’ top players, Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, and Leon Draisaitl, were limited in their point production, it was the team’s secondary scoring that stepped up. Brett Kulak unleashed a powerful one-timer that found the back of the net past Cam Talbot, signaling the start of a significant contribution from the Oilers’ depth players. Dylan Holloway was particularly impactful, scoring twice to help fuel the Oilers’ rally.

Further commendations are due for the line of Sam Carrick, Dylan Holloway, and Mattias Janmark, who distinguished themselves by being the only Oilers not on the ice for a goal against during a 5-4 loss. Their exceptional play on the forecheck and solid defensive play were a highlight for the Oilers night.

The Oilers are going to need to come out strong in game 3 in order to win back home ice advantage, but that’s going to start with their play in net. It would be very surprising if Kris Knoblauch decided to start making changes on the back end after one loss and I’m sure Stuart Skinner has earned at least one more shot at redemption as the Oilers head into Los Angeles for game 3 on Friday night.

For his part, Knoblauch protected Skinner in the post game presser:

This might not have been the Oilers best game, but a lot of the blame can go squarely on their play in the first period. The Oilers won on the shot clock, high danger chances, and overall I thought had the best chances throughout. It’s going to be key for the Oilers to play with urgency right from the start, but also realize the series is 7 games and they don’t need to panic just yet.

The Oilers are back on the ice in Los Angeles for game 3 at Crypto dot com arena on Friday. Puck drop is at 8:30 MT.