Entering the year, promise abounded for the Kings, but now their next home game could be their last.
They face a 2-1 series deficit against the Oilers and, as of now, are only certain of a Game 5 in Edmonton beyond Sunday’s Game 4.
A hyped offseason and auspicious beginning to the campaign gave way to a sinewy season that now teeters two losses from ending the same way it did in each of the past two springs, by being bounced by Edmonton.
The Oilers were rude guests on Friday in a 6-1 stomping of the Kings. Edmonton captain Connor McDavid emphasized that it was just one win, and the Kings had no choice but to downplay the disparity on the scoreboard as well.
“Obviously the game didn’t go the way we wanted it to, but it’s 2-1 in the series. We could have lost 10-1, doesn’t matter,” Kings defenseman Matt Roy said. “It’s 2-1. We’re just going to bounce back and get ready to go.”
For winger Kevin Fiala, it was a matter of gleaning lessons. Or moving on. Or the two things simultaneously.
“Learn. Forget. Both,” Fiala said.
The Kings, however, didn’t seem like they had a lot of answers after Game 1, a 7-4 beatdown that was even worse than it looked on paper, and yet they rebounded with an overtime win in Game 2. In 2022, against these same Oilers, they lost Games 2 and 3 of the first-round series by 6-0 and 8-2 counts. They responded with consecutive victories to climb into the driver’s seat of a series they ultimately lost in seven games.
Yet Edmonton now boasts force and momentum, having scored 17 goals in three games with their marquee players living up to their billing and then some. Connor McDavid leads the NHL in playoff points with nine, with Leon Draisaitl and leading goal-scorer Zach Hyman tied for second with seven apiece. The Oilers power play has also converted at a 50% clip.
“They’re not impossible to stop. We stopped them (in Game 2). Obviously they’re very good players, but we have to do a better job,” Fiala said.
So prolific has that trio been for Edmonton that a game in which the Oilers scored four goals and the three forwards combined for four points was considered “stopping” the imposing figures lined up opposite the Kings in this series.
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While the Kings were excellent at home after they made an early February coaching change, Edmonton has won five of the seven meetings at Crypto.com Arena across the three first-round series.
The Kings have limited options as far as changing personnel among their skaters but could consider a switch between the pipes. Cam Talbot made timely saves in Game 2 but also let in some suspect goals, and his numbers in the series have ballooned from the regular season. Backup David Rittich was superb at home during the campaign with a 1.34 goals-against average, .948 save percentage, three shutouts and a 7-2-2 record.
Game 4: Edmonton at Kings
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV: Bally Sports West, TBS