Oilers ousted by Kings 5-2

Los Angeles' Marco Sturm attempts to get the puck past Edmonton's Devan Dubnyk Saturday, Jan. 15 at Staples Center. The Kings won the game 5-2. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

 

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PRE-GAME

Preview Game Notes Head-to-Head Stats Comparison Video interviews Audio Interviews

PHOTOS

Click here for the photo gallery

VIDEO

Watch the highlights Post-game comments from Hall, Gilbert, Gagner, Cogliano & Coach Renney The Other Side: Kopitar, Greene & Coach Murray of the Kings comment

AUDIO

Audio Highlights Tom Gilbert Sam Gagner Andrew Cogliano Taylor Hall Head Coach Tom Renney

THREE STARS

Drew Doughty, LA Jarret Stoll, LA Taylor Hall, EDM

UPDATE

With the loss, the Oilers fall to 14-22-7 on the season.

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Under the Scope

WHAT'S NEXT

The Oilers conclude their five-game road trip Sunday, January 16 in Anaheim. The game starts at 6:00pm MT and will be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet West.

Despite tallying the game's opening goal and out-shooting their opponent 26-23, the Oilers couldn't topple the Kings and suffered a 5-2 defeat in Los Angeles Saturday night. Dustin Penner and Andrew Cogliano scored for Edmonton, while Devan Dubnyk made 18 saves in the loss.

Under the Scope

FIRST PERIOD

The Kings tallied the first two shots and then the first two penalty minutes when Jack Johnson was called for delay of game after flipping the puck over the glass. The Oilers evened up the shot count on the man-advantage but were unable to get one past Jonathan Bernier.

Shortly after the penalty expired, Edmonton tallied a third shot and opening goal. With help from Ales Hemsky and Taylor Hall, Penner caught the puck at the side of the net, flipped it up, and backhanded it top shelf from an improbable angle. The impressive maneuver gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead.

Following another successful penalty kill, the Kings tied it up. After participating in a three-on-two, Marco Sturm completed the attack by tipping in Drew Doughty's shot past Dubnyk to even the score 1-1.

Less than three minutes later, Los Angeles took the lead. On another odd-man rush, Anze Kopitar tipped in Justin Williams' attempt, setting the score 2-1.

But the goals kept coming, this time in Edmonton's favour. 1:07 after Kopitar's goal, Cogliano caught a rebound in the slot and redirected it over Bernier to get the Oil back on even terms.

The game stayed that way until the buzzer, with both the Oilers and Kings carrying two goals and eight shots into the middle frame.

SECOND PERIOD

1:19 into the second period, Doughty smoked Hall near the penalty boxes, triggering immediate response from the on-ice Oilers, including Penner, Hemsky, Theo Peckham and Tom Gilbert. The resulting pile-up netted a roughing minor to Penner, which the visitors deftly killed.

Another Kings penalty, this time to Dustin Brown, followed Penner's infraction. The Oilers couldn't capitalize, and as Brown exited the penalty box, he embarked on a two-on-one with Jarret Stoll. A pretty pass from Brown set up Stoll for a wrister that snuck past Dubnyk and put the Kings back on top 3-2.

With 1:32 remaining on the clock, a holding minor to Peckham gave the Kings their second power-play. Edmonton's penalty-kill outlasted the period, ensuring the club would be down one man and one goal to start the third.

THIRD PERIOD

Edmonton killed the remainder of Peckham's penalty but that accomplishment was followed by a fourth Los Angeles goal. While trailing the play into the neutral zone, Doughty intercepted a clearing attempt, skated it back in, and sniped the puck over Dubnyk's glove to make it 4-2 Kings.

With just over eight minutes left in regulation, a tripping minor to Brown gave the Oilers a chance to get that one back. Early in the power-play, however, Trevor Lewis capitalized on a giveaway and broke in on Dubnyk. The goalie came up big with a save, but Kurtis Foster was called for tripping, eliminating Edmonton's man-advantage.

The Oilers opted for six skaters and pulled Dubnyk with 2:04 left on the clock. Only 14 seconds later, Stoll fired his second of the night into the empty net, sealing a 5-2 victory for the Kings.