Kings Defeat Oilers 5-4 in Overtime to Even Playoff Series

The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 in overtime in Game 2 of their first-round NHL playoff series on Wednesday night, tying the series at 1-1. Anze Kopitar scored the game-winning goal on a breakaway 2:07 into the extra period to secure the victory for the Kings.

Adrian Kempe got the Kings off to a fast start, scoring two goals in the first period. Drew Doughty and Kevin Fiala also found the back of the net for Los Angeles. The Oilers fought back, with Dylan Holloway scoring twice and Brett Kulak and Zach Hyman each adding a goal to tie the game at 4-4 and force overtime.

Kings coach Jim Hiller made key adjustments in Game 2, including juggling line combinations and focusing on limiting the Oilers' dangerous rushes. Goaltender Cam Talbot came up with a critical save late in the second period to keep the game tied. "It was a big save at a key time for us," Hiller said. "Cam was solid all night and gave us a chance to win."

The Oilers felt they played well overall and had possession of the puck for much of the game, but the Kings capitalized on their opportunities. "We had our chances, but we need to do a better job of burying them," Oilers captain Connor McDavid said. "Credit to the Kings, they played a strong game and made it tough on us."

Why this matters: The Kings and Oilers have now split the first two games of their playoff series in each of the past three seasons. The winner of this series will advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and face either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Seattle Kraken.

The series now shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Friday night. The Kings will look to feed off the energy of their home crowd and take a 2-1 series lead, while the Oilers will aim to regroup and steal a game on the road. With the series tied and each team claiming a hard-fought victory, the stage is set for an intense and closely contested battle as the Kings and Oilers continue their playoff rivalry.

Key Takeaways

• Los Angeles Kings defeated Edmonton Oilers 5-4 in OT, tying series 1-1.
• Anze Kopitar scored the game-winning goal for the Kings in overtime.
• Kings made key adjustments, including line changes and limiting Oilers' rushes.
• Series now shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3, with both teams aiming to take lead.
• Winner of this series will advance to face Vegas Golden Knights or Seattle Kraken.