The Edmonton Oilers beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 on Tuesday at crypto.com Arena, scoring three goals in the first period and getting four points from Connor McDavid. Vasily Podkolzin scored twice for Edmonton, which improved to 5-0-1.
The Oilers broke the game open before the midpoint of the first period. Leon Draisaitl opened the scoring at 7:16 on a snap shot, and Podkolzin followed less than a minute later at 8:16. McDavid capped the flurry with a backhand goal at 15:48, giving Edmonton a 3-0 lead after one period. The Kings’ lone goal came from Brandt Clarke at 17:29 of the second, assisted by Scott Laughton, before Podkolzin added an empty-net-style insurance goal late in the third to make it 4-1.
Key Moments: How The Oilers Beat Kings 4-1
Edmonton’s first period decided the outcome. Three goals in less than nine minutes, all set up by McDavid or Evan Bouchard, buried Los Angeles before the Kings managed much offense. Despite being outshot 40-17 for the game, the Oilers leaned on goaltender Devon Levi, who turned aside 39 of 40 shots for a .975 save percentage. Los Angeles pulled within two on Clarke’s power-play goal in the second period, but Podkolzin’s second goal of the night, assisted by McDavid and Draisaitl at 17:42 of the third, closed it out.
Top Performers
McDavid finished with four points on three assists and a goal, logging time on all three Edmonton scoring plays. Podkolzin scored both of his goals on snap and wrist shots and now has seven goals on the season. Draisaitl added a goal and an assist.
Levi stopped 39 of 40 shots in net for the Oilers. For Los Angeles, Clarke had the only goal and point among Kings skaters, while Quinton Byfield led the team with three shots on goal. Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg stopped all nine shots he faced before Darcy Kuemper took over and allowed three goals on seven shots.
What It Means
Edmonton moved to 5-0-1 and sits second in the Pacific Division standings with 11 points, one behind Vegas. The Oilers also lead the season series with Los Angeles 1-0. The Kings dropped to 0-3-2 and remain winless, sitting last in the division with two points. Los Angeles was outshot despite controlling the shot total 40-17, a gap that reflects Edmonton’s efficiency in the first period and Levi’s performance in net.
What’s Next
The Oilers continue their road trip after improving to 5-0-1, while the Kings look to find their first win of the season as they try to climb out of the Pacific Division basement. Edmonton has already shown scoring depth beyond its top line this season, as seen in its 5-2 win over the Ducks and a narrow 3-1 win over the Kraken earlier this season. Los Angeles will need to tighten its power-play unit, which went 0-for-4 against Edmonton after allowing a shorthanded-style breakdown that let the Oilers convert on their lone man-advantage chance.
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