Oilers can't topple Kings, lose 3-1

Los Angeles' Ryan Smyth and Edmonton's Colin Fraser battle for position Wednesday, Feb. 2 at Rexall Place. The Kings won the game 3-1. (Photo courtesy of Andy Devlin / Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club)

 

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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 Watch Paajarvi's goal IN FOCUS: Post-game comments from Khabibulin, Hall, Omark, Foster, Cogliano & coach Renney Head coach Tom Renney's full post-game press conference The Other Side: Drew Doughty, Ryan Smyth, Jarret Stoll & head coach Terry Murray after the Kings win

AUDIO

Audio Highlights Taylor Hall Linus Omark Andrew Cogliano Kurtis Foster Nikolai Khabibulin Head Coach Tom Renney

THREE STARS

Ryan Smyth, LA Jack Johnson, LA Magnus Paajarvi, EDM

UPDATE

With the loss, the Oilers record falls to 15-27-8

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Under the Scope

WHAT'S NEXT

The Oilers embark on a three-game road trip that starts Friday, Feb. 4 in St. Louis. The game starts at 6:00pm MT and will be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet West.

Despite dominating the first period and outshooting their opponent 33-26 through 60 minutes, the Oilers were unable to top the Kings where it counts and suffered a 3-1 loss Wednesday night. Magnus Paajarvi scored Edmonton's lone goal early in the second period, while Nikolai Khabibulin finished with 23 saves at the opposite end of the ice.

Under the Scope

FIRST PERIOD

The Oilers assumed a 3-1 shot lead before benefiting from the game's first power-play at 6:29. Edmonton added two attempts during Justin Williams' two minutes, but Jonathan Quick turned them both away.

Two more Kings penalties helped the Oil maintain a considerable shot lead. After 20 minutes, the home team was leading 12-5 but had yet to light the lamp.

SECOND PERIOD

Less than a minute into the middle frame, the power-play tables turned when Theo Peckham was called for delay of game. Los Angeles tested Khabibulin with one shot on their man-advantage, but the most exciting scoring chance of the stretch belonged to Peckham when he surged out of the penalty box. Unfortunately for fans, his breakaway was met with a Quick stop.

Although the young Oilers defenceman couldn't beat the Kings goalie, his teammate Paajarvi got the job done 42 seconds later. With help from Sam Gagner in the slot, the speedy Swede one-timed a wrist-shot past Quick to put Edmonton up 1-0.

Shortly after the goal, Dustin Penner was called for elbowing, and in even shorter time, the Kings evened it up. Only five seconds into his club's second power-play, Ryan Smyth tipped Drew Doughty's shot into the net, tying the game at one.

Like Los Angeles in the first period, Edmonton was soon assessed a third straight penalty. Near the midway point of the infraction and the game, the same trio of Smyth, Doughty, and Jack Johnson combined to pick Khabibulin's top right corner, giving the Kings a 2-1 lead on the power-play.

Although the Oilers maintained their shot lead, the 2-1 score persisted through to the end of the frame.

THIRD PERIOD

Three minutes into the third, Jean-Francois Jacques and Willie Mitchell got a little testy around Quick's net, resulting in coincidental roughing minors. With 45 seconds left in the penalties, Ladislav Smid was accused of dragging down Jarret Stoll at the Oilers net, and Khabibulin was tasked with stopping a Kings penalty shot. He succeeded.

The Kings gained some ground following the penalty shot, and with five minutes remaining in regulation, they increased their lead. From the left point, Johnson sunk a slapshot to earn his third point of the night and make it 3-1 for the visitors.

The Oilers pulled Khabibulin in the final minute, but a sixth skater couldn't close the gap and the Kings came out with the two points.