Oilers beheaded by Kings

Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings 2-5 (1-2, 0-0, 1-3)

The Oilers opted to go with the same lineup that beat the Coyotes in a shootout last game, starting Jonas Hiller for the third straight game. Los Angeles had gone subterranean for the year by losing 5 in a row, formally sinking into the ground as they were already last in the Conference. Their deadline moves included moving scorers like Frolov and Stoll.

The Kings lack of scoring threats was not glaring in the first, even though the Oilers took the early lead through Greg Moore. Powerful centreman and undeniable elite talent Anze Kopitar equalised the score, before former Oiler veteran Ryan Smyth put the Kings ahead late on.

Apart from a few unfruitful power plays, there was little in terms of offensive action in the second. Both teams attempted to establish a physical presence, something which the Kings arguably did best with 18 hits in the period.

The third period was the scene of a beheading, and Michal Handzus put the Oilers on the chopping block with his SH goal six minutes into the period. Even though the Oilers answered on the same power play, they were overrun by a berserker-gang of Kings players who smelled blood and sliced through Hiller twice after that.

Post game: "Hugely disappointing" started GM Kowalski, before elaborating that the lack of power play conversion, only 1 goal in 8 chances and poor physical presence allowed the Kings to find space were there should have been none. Brooks Laich scored his 21st goal of the year and had a strong performance, but the overall effort was not good enough to win.


Scoreboard
1st Period:
EDM - Moore (Moreau, Falardeau)
LAK - Kopitar (Mikus, Brown)
LAK - Smyth (Brown, Jones)

2nd Period:
-

3rd Period:
LAK - Handzus (-) SH
EDM - Laich (O'Sullivan, Penner) PP
LAK - Möller (Mikus, Kopitar)
LAK - Purcell (Segal)


Injuries/Misconducts/Etc.
-

Lines:
Penner - Gagner - Hemsky
Tangradi - Laich - Brule
Axelsson - Cogliano - Moore
Moreau - Falardeau - O'Marra

Babchuk - Visnovsky
Smid - Gilbert
Grebeshkov - Petry

Hiller
(Khabibulin)