Danault scores winner as Kings edge Oilers in Game 1 | CBC Sports


Phillip Danault scored 14:46 into the third period as the LA Kings beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff matchup on Monday.

Trevor Moore and Alex Iafallo each scored and provided an assist for LA, and Brandon Lemieux contributed a goal.

Connor McDavid and Kailier Yamamoto responded with a goal and an assist each, and Leon Draisaitl completed the scoring with a power play.

LA goalie Jonathan Quick made 35 saves for the win and Mike Smith stopped 31 of 35 shots for Edmonton.

WATCH the Oilers fall to the Kings in the first game of the series:

Kings rout Oilers with Danault winner to take Game 1

Los Angeles outscored Edmonton 4-3 when Phillip Danault scored the game-winner with just over five minutes remaining in the third period. 1:08

The Oilers finished the regular season in second place in the Pacific Division with a 49-27-6 record to gain home-field advantage and fans responded by filling Rogers Place with a sold-out crowd for the opening game.

Edmonton is in the playoffs for the third straight season, but last year’s run was short-lived, with the Winnipeg Jets ousting the Oilers in the first round with a four-game sweep.

Moore opened the scoring in the 11th minute of Monday’s game, with a shot from inside the faceoff circle off Smith’s outstretched glove.

He then set up Iafallo to give LA a 2-0 lead at 16:52 of the first. Parked just below the goal line, Moore sent Iafallo a behind-the-back pass and Iafallo wasted no time getting it into the Oilers’ net.

Edmonton cut the deficit before the end of the opening frame with another noteworthy goal from McDavid.

The Oilers captain ran along the ice, holding off several Kings defenders, and fired a quick shot past Quick to make it 2-1 with 42 seconds left in the first.

WATCH l McDavid scores an impressive goal in Game 1:

Connor McDavid’s impressive Game 1 goal cuts Oilers’ deficit in half

Edmonton captain Connor McDavid’s skill is on full display as he scores a goal against Los Angeles in the first half. 1:18

Chants of “MVP! MVP!” followed by the boisterous crowd. McDavid won his fourth Art Ross Trophy this season after posting a league-best 123 points.

The Oilers tied the score early in the second with a power play score after Iafallo was called for tripping.

Duncan Keith fired a shot from long range and Yamamoto finished it from the back door at 2:39 of the period.

The score did not remain tied at 2-2 for long. Lemieux sent a shot from the top of the faceoff circle at 3:50 of the second to restore the Kings’ lead.

Edmonton leveled again midway through the period with another power play goal after Iafallo was called for a cross check.

McDavid sent a pass flying off the boards with the puck bouncing off a broken stick in the slot before Draisaitl set it up and fired a quick shot past Quick 9:56 into the second.

Edmonton went 2-for-4 with the man advantage on Monday and LA went 0-for-4.

The Kings last took the lead at 14:46 after Danault found space between Smith and his post.

Moments earlier, the goaltender tried to clear the puck behind the net and instead put it on the post of a Los Angeles player up front. Smith made a dive stop but couldn’t corner the puck and seconds later a long bomb went over his shoulder.

Game 2 begins Wednesday in Edmonton. The series moves to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Friday.

CLOCK | Trio of Canadian teams attempt to end 28-year Cup drought:

Canadian NHL teams heading to the Stanley Cup playoffs

The Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs are competing in the NHL playoffs this season, sparking renewed optimism that one of them will finally end Canada’s 28-year Stanley Cup drought. 2:04



Reference-www.cbc.ca

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