Adrian Kempe scored twice in a four-point game and Anze Kopitar collected one goal and three assists to lead the host Los Angeles Kings to a 6-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday and a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Andrei Kuzmenko posted one goal and one assist while Brandt Clarke and Quinton Byfield each scored for the Kings, who won both games at home to kick off the best-of-seven Western Conference series.
Los Angeles’ Warren Foegele collected two assists and goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves.
“Throughout my years, we’ve always been a good road team, not a good home team,” Kempe said on TNT. “This year, it has completely changed. We started well (having success) early and every game, we’re really confident.”
Leon Draisaitl and Viktor Arvidsson scored for the Oilers. Starting goalie Stuart Skinner stopped 23 of 28 shots before being pulled midway through the third period. Calvin Pickard made two saves in relief.
“We just have to be better,” Draisaitl said. “We gotta dig in and be better. This group has a lot of character in here. We’ll regroup, let this one go and go back home trying to bring our best game.”
Game 3 will be Friday in Edmonton.
“We took care of business at home,” Kopitar said. “Obviously going up to Edmonton now and try to steal a game.”
Clarke opened the scoring at 8:44 of the first period with a power-play goal. He drove to the net on a rush and redirected Foegele’s crossing pass for his first career NHL playoff goal.
Byfield doubled the lead at 4:14 of the second period when he zoomed alone to the net and lifted a short-side shot.
Kuzmenko added another power-play goal just past the game’s midway point. He converted an open chance when Kempe’s point shot missed the net, but the puck bounded to Kuzmenko at the front.
The Oilers made it a one-goal game thanks to goals by Draisaitl at 13:54 of the middle frame and Arvidsson’s deflection at 4:05 of the third period.
However, the hosts responded with a trio of goals to seal the victory.
Kempe restored the two-goal lead less than three minutes later, set up in the slot by Kopitar after an Oilers turnover. Then Kopitar netted his club’s fifth power-play goal of the series, a one-timer set up by Kevin Fiala’s quick pass across the slot at 9:07 of the final frame.
Kempe added another two minutes later, a short-side tally on the first shot Pickard faced. Kempe has collected three goals and four assists in the series.
The Oilers had power forward Evander Kane in the lineup for the first time this season and defenseman John Klingberg for the first time since March 27.
“We haven’t played to the standard or level that we’re capable of playing,” Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse said. “It’s a (angry) group and we gotta go home and take care of business on home ice.”
–Field Level Media
