Los Angeles, California — The LA Kings squandered a two-goal lead in the third period, ultimately falling to the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in overtime of Game 4, leveling their playoff series at two games apiece.
Trevor Moore opened the scoring for Los Angeles midway through the first period, netting his second goal in as many games. After showcasing tenacity in their forecheck, Moore received the puck from Phillip Danault and maneuvered into the right circle, where he unleashed a shot that beat Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard.
Early in the second period, the Kings extended their lead to 2-0. Danault, again instrumental, capitalized on a turnover, feeding Warren Foegele in front of Pickard. Although Foegele’s initial attempt was thwarted by Pickard’s pad, he recovered quickly to push the rebound across the line for his first playoff goal.
Edmonton responded shortly after, cutting the deficit to 2-1 with a power-play goal. After struggling to clear the puck, the Kings fell victim to a clever play from Corey Perry, who managed to score from close range after the rebound from a shot hit the ice and floated up to him.
Los Angeles regained a two-goal advantage shortly afterward when Kevin Fiala scored his third of the playoffs. Fiala skillfully controlled a pass from Alex Laferriere in midair and evaded two defenders before finishing neatly, pushing the score to 3-1.
However, the Oilers were not finished yet. A seemingly innocuous shot from defenseman Evan Bouchard slipped through after deflecting off Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, closing the gap to 3-2. The game took a dramatic turn in the final seconds of regulation when Quinton Byfield’s attempt to clear the puck failed, allowing Draisaitl to set up Bouchard for a one-timer that found the back of the net, forcing overtime.
As overtime began, both teams battled, but it was Edmonton that seized the moment. A tripping penalty assessed to Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov with just over two minutes remaining in the extra period left Los Angeles short-handed. On the ensuing power play, Leon Draisaitl scored the game-winner, tapping in a rebound to secure the victory for the Oilers, marking his fourth point of the night.
Following the game, players reflected on the disappointing finish. Danault acknowledged the role of chance in the latter stages, pointing out several near misses that contributed to the final outcome. “We played hard, and I thought we came out with intensity. We’re looking forward to going home,” he noted, emphasizing the optimism heading into the next games.
Head Coach Jim Hiller echoed this sentiment, expressing pride in his team’s performance despite the setback. He recognized the need for adjustments heading into the series’ next phase, while also praising the team’s resilience, especially with the upcoming games taking place on familiar ice back in Los Angeles.
With the series now tied, both teams are set to regroup. The Kings will rest before heading back to Los Angeles, where they aim to regain momentum in front of their home crowd. As the playoff race heats up, the Kings are poised to make adjustments and build on their previous performances to secure crucial victories in the coming games.