LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a thrilling showdown at Crypto.com Arena, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 on Tuesday night, April 29, 2025, marking their third consecutive victory in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Mattias Janmark emerged as the hero of the match, scoring the tiebreaking goal in the third period, while Evander Kane and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also found the back of the net. With this win, the Oilers now lead the best-of-seven series 3-2, putting them one game away from advancing to the next round.
Calvin Pickard, the Oilers' goaltender, made a total of 21 saves during the game, showcasing his skills as Edmonton looks to close out the series in Game 6 on Thursday, May 1, 2025, back in Alberta. The Oilers have shown resilience, having come back to win three consecutive games after initially falling behind 2-0 in the series. This marks the first time in franchise history that Edmonton has recorded three straight comeback victories in the playoffs.
Janmark's decisive goal came at 7:12 of the third period when he capitalized on a rebound from a shot by Viktor Arvidsson, giving the Oilers a crucial 2-1 lead. "I think the feeling was really there after the first period that we’re outplaying ’em, we got them where we want, and now we've just got to push," Janmark said. He added that the team maintained their composure even after the Kings scored first, emphasizing the importance of keeping the pressure on.
The Kings initially took the lead when Andrei Kuzmenko scored a power-play goal early in the second period, tipping in a shot from captain Anze Kopitar. Kuzmenko's goal marked his sixth point of the postseason and his 23rd point in just 27 games since joining the Kings. However, the Oilers responded swiftly, with Kane tying the game just three minutes later with a shot from the slot.
As the game progressed, the Oilers continued to dominate in terms of shot volume, outshooting the Kings 46-21 overall, including a staggering 19-4 in the first period alone. "We wanted to be desperate, like we were in the third period and overtime the last game," Pickard noted. "And we did it for 60 minutes." The Kings, despite a strong effort from goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who made 43 saves, were unable to keep pace with the relentless Oilers.
Kings coach Jim Hiller acknowledged his team's struggles, saying, "They executed way better than us tonight. They were stronger. They beat us in every area of the game, except for the special teams, oddly enough. The goaltender was great for us to give us a chance. They were just better in every way. We can't look to one part of our game and think that was acceptable." Kuemper's performance was commendable, especially after being named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, but it was not enough to secure a win.
As the game neared its conclusion, Nugent-Hopkins sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, further solidifying the Oilers' comeback narrative. This win not only puts Edmonton in a strong position to advance but also highlights their ability to adapt and overcome early playoff struggles.
Looking ahead, the Oilers are focused on closing out the series at home. "If you just don’t go away, if you keep believing, you give yourself a chance to win," said Zach Hyman, reflecting on the team's mindset. "Even after a win like tonight, it’s back to business. We have a huge opportunity to close it out at home and that’s the mindset right now." The Oilers will aim to leverage their home-ice advantage in Game 6 to eliminate the Kings and move forward in the playoffs.
With the series now tilted in their favor, the Oilers have shown that they can bounce back from adversity, a crucial quality as they continue their playoff journey. The Kings, on the other hand, face the daunting task of avoiding elimination and will need to regroup quickly to mount a comeback of their own.
As the tension mounts and the stakes rise, all eyes will be on Game 6, where the Oilers will seek to finalize their place in the next round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Fans are eager to see if Edmonton can maintain their momentum and secure a fourth consecutive first-round victory over Los Angeles.
