A night that began with thunderous “Talbot” chants from Edmonton Oilers fans trying to distract the Kings netminder ended in silence, save for an excited Los Angeles Kings bench emptying.
Captain Anze Kopitar’s overtime-winner sealed a 5-4 Kings victory, levelling their first-round series with the Oilers at 1-1 heading to Los Angeles. It’s a reminder that the Kings will not go down quietly as the underdogs after a 7-4 loss in Game 1.
“We all didn’t feel good about our first game, so we had a lot to prove this game,” Kings forward Quinton Byfield said post-game. “Everyone stepped up their game – ‘Kopi’ led the way, so leaders lead.”
JUST KEEP WATCHING IT pic.twitter.com/PcMxqNxGQC
— x – LA Kings (@LAKings) April 25, 2024
It’s a foregone conclusion the Oilers and Kings will split the first two games of a playoff series – it happened in each of the past three seasons. Even with many predicting the Oilers to take this series in fewer than six games, the Kings again showed they’re not a team to take lightly.
The Kings took an early 2-0 lead, and every time Edmonton had an answer to either cut into the deficit or tie the game, the Kings countered. Less than a minute after Oilers D-man Brett Kulak made things a 2-1 game, Drew Doughty responded with his first playoff goal since 2014. Kevin Fiala and Anze Kopitar’s tie-breaking goals came around the first two minutes of the third period and overtime, respectively.
“That’s just playoff hockey for you,” Byfield said. “It’s a lot of momentum swings in a game like that, and it’s about how well you can handle it, the ups and downs, how well you can sustain it.”
One of the biggest differences that led to the Kings’ success in Game 2 compared to Game 1 was their play on special teams. Edmonton went 3-for-4 on the man advantage in Game 1, but they only went 1-for-3 in Game 2, as the Kings’ penalty kill was far more effective.
Cam Talbot noticed the difference in their penalty kills as well.
“Honestly, desperation,” Talbot said. “I think you guys could tell from the first one, which was five, six minutes into the game, there were a lot of big blocks. Not allowing those plays backdoor. Just better all-around structure and not giving them the big backdoor tap-ins that they were getting last game. So, credit to the PK tonight – they did a heck of a job.”
In a developing rivalry where both teams have gotten to know each other well, the biggest names on both sides have stepped up. Game 2 was the Kings’ turn for their leaders to get on the scoresheet. Every Kings goal came from a player who has played in all three series against Edmonton in the past three years.
“Somebody’s got to score a big goal,” said Kings interim coach Jim Hiller. “Drew (Doughty) with the first one in a long time, right? But he’s a big-game player. We needed this game clearly, and then to see ‘Kopi’ get that one at the end. Great to see the goal go in, but I can tell you for me personally, for a guy that’s done as much as he has to get another overtime game-winning goal, it was special.”
OH MY GOODNESS CAM TALBOT pic.twitter.com/Jyg01HH3e8
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 25, 2024
Once again, the 1-3-1 formation that helped the Kings get back into the playoff race didn’t play a huge factor. But Hiller still liked what he saw, as his team needed a better response to take the home-ice advantage.
“We checked way better,” he said. “I knew we would – we had to.
“I think we just did a good job in the neutral zone. I don’t know how often we were in the 1-3-1 – I don’t think that often, but we just did a pretty good job of slowing it down, clogging it up a little bit and making them play off of the forecheck and O-zone play.”
If history between these two teams prevails again, we’re in for another battle that will take slightly longer than expected. Game 3 goes down at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Friday at 10:30 p.m. ET.
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News Summary:
- 'Playoff Hockey For You': How the Los Angeles Kings Silenced the Oilers Crowd in Game 2
- Check all news and articles from the latest NHL updates.