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Darcy Kuemper, Los Angeles Kings (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Kings Shut Out Oilers 3-0 For 2 Huge Points In the Standings Race

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Raz Devraj | Last updated Apr 5, 2025 8:22 PM ET

With what the Edmonton Oilers were missing throughout their lineup, this was a game the Los Angeles Kings should have won. The Oilers were without three of their big guns in Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Mattias Ekholm on Saturday afternoon, and the Kings took advantage of that, doing what they do best on home ice: winning hockey games. Kevin Fiala hit 30 goals for the first time as a King, and Darcy Kuemper collected his fifth shutout of the season as the Kings defeated the Oilers 3-0, putting them four points ahead of the Oilers in the standings.

The Kings didn’t necessarily dominate the game offensively, but their control of the neutral zone and ability to keep the Oilers to the outside for a lot of the game made it difficult for the Oilers to generate a ton of high-quality scoring chances. The Kings didn’t give up a ton, unlike their last game against the Utah Hockey Club, and they capitalized on a couple of great looks that were enough to get the job done.

Game Recap

The Kings came out with an extra bit of energy, going to work in the offensive zone right from the drop of the puck. Hemming the Oilers in with their cycle and quick puck movement, an early Kings goal seemed to be right around the corner. A goal in the first period never came (for either team), and after the first few minutes of play driving by the Kings, neither team moved the needle offensively.

Early in the second period, the Kings thought they had broken through, opening the scoring. Kings forward Jeff Malott, in just his sixth career NHL game, showed shades of Bobby Orr, jumping over a stick and swatting the puck into the back of the net as he was falling to give the Kings a 1-0 lead. Malott thought he had his first career NHL goal until the play was ruled offside and the goal was called back.

It was Fiala who ended up opening the scoring halfway through the second period. He used his speed to dart down the middle of the ice before feeding Alex Laferriere on the wing as he gained the zone. Laferriere’s shot from the outside landed right in front of the crease, and Fiala, who crashed the net, was there to deposit the rebound into the empty cage.

The Kings doubled their lead in the second, this time courtesy of who else other than Andrei Kuzmenko, who collected his seventh point in four games. Adrian Kempe found Kuzmenko at the top of the right circle, who walked in and ripped one far side on Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard for his 11th of the season. Kempe’s primary assist was also the 200th assist of his career.

The Oilers had a bit of a push in the third period, where they generated the most chances of the game. Unfortunately for them, nothing resulted in a goal, and the Kings, who had a 2-0 lead, were comfortable playing laid-back, clogging up the middle of the ice, defending in layers, and grinding out the final 20 minutes. With just under three minutes remaining, Trevor Lewis followed a puck up the boards that ended up bouncing over Oilers defenseman Jake Walman’s stick, before capping off the game with an empty-netter to make it 3-0.

What’s Next for the Kings & Oilers

The Kings, who are now just one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division, will look to continue their quest for first place when they host the Seattle Kraken on Monday (April 7), while the Oilers will stick around Southern California as they wait to take on the Anaheim Ducks, also on Monday.