The Los Angeles Kings are off to a dream start in the playoffs—and for the first time ever against the Oilers, they’ve taken a 2-0 lead in a postseason series.
With a convincing 6-2 win at home on Wednesday night, the Kings are showing they mean business in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Kempe Leads the Way with Four-Point Night
Adrian Kempe was unstoppable in Game 2. He scored twice and added two assists, continuing a red-hot run that has him at seven points through just two games.
His second goal was the dagger, capping a dominant third-period run that shut the door on any Edmonton comeback.
“He does every little thing right,” said teammate Brandt Clarke. “We’re really lucky to have him.”
Power Play on Fire, Penalty Kill Steps Up
One of the biggest changes from last year’s playoff loss to Edmonton? Special teams. This time, the Kings are winning that battle decisively.
Los Angeles went 3-for-5 on the power play in Game 2—and they’ve scored five times with the man advantage across the first two games. Meanwhile, the Oilers are 0-for-5 on their power plays so far.
“We knew how important it would be,” said Kings head coach Jim Hiller. “Our special teams have stepped up big time.”
Clarke Opens the Scoring, Young Stars Shine
Rookie defenseman Brandt Clarke opened the scoring with his first-ever playoff goal, cashing in on a power play after Edmonton’s Evander Kane took a cross-checking penalty just 95 seconds into his season debut.
Quinton Byfield followed with a slick wrister early in the second, and Andrei Kuzmenko added a rebound goal to make it 3-0.
Oilers Rally—But Not for Long
Edmonton made it interesting with goals from Leon Draisaitl and Viktor Arvidsson to cut the lead to 3-2. But just when the Oilers looked like they might flip the script, the Kings slammed the door.
Kempe and Anze Kopitar scored back-to-back goals in the third, ending any hopes of a comeback.
Kopitar, who had a goal and three assists, also became the first King since Wayne Gretzky to record four points in a playoff game alongside a teammate.
Goalie Switch Highlights Oilers’ Struggles
Oilers starter Stuart Skinner allowed five goals before getting pulled midway through the third period. Backup Calvin Pickard didn’t fare much better—Kempe scored on the first shot he faced.
Darnell Nurse summed up the mood in the Oilers locker room: “We’ve been hanging our goalie out to dry. We’ve got to be better. No excuses.”
What’s Next: Series Shifts to Edmonton
Game 3 is set for Friday in Edmonton, and the pressure is now firmly on the Oilers. The Kings have momentum, a power play firing on all cylinders, and a red-hot top line.
But as Kings forward Warren Foegele put it, “It’s the first to four wins. We’ll enjoy this one, then get back to work.”
Quick Notes:
- This is LA’s first 2-0 playoff series lead since the 2014 Stanley Cup Final.
- Evander Kane returned for Edmonton but had just one shot in nearly 15 minutes.
- Kempe and Kopitar became the first Kings duo since Gretzky and Coffey (1992) to each have four points in a playoff game.
Your daily dose of sports action starts at DanredSports.com—where passion meets reporting!