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Comeback Kings Fall Short in Game 2

Very often when NHL teams fall behind early or come up short, they talk about playing a “full 60.” Sure it’s a cliche, but in this case, one worth using as the Los Angeles Kings ceded two goals early on to the Edmonton Oilers. Again. No, it’s never easy going up against one of the best teams in the world but from puck drop, the Kings were on the heels and just seemed totally ill prepared in general. It took a mere two minutes and 34 seconds for the puck to end up behind Joonas Korpisalo.

Arthur Kaliyev mishandled the puck inside the Edmonton blue line and Rasmus Kupari passed it back up the middle to no one, leading to the play going the other way. Leon Draisaitl then went to work schooling Carl Grundstrom on physics by quickly cutting to the middle and shooting hard into the end boards for a rebound with no King close enough to catch up, and thus 36-year-old journeyman Derek Ryan had the opening tally.



The first period wasn’t all doom and gloom, though. There were a few bright spots. Despite being credited for only three shots on goal, the team managed to hold Edmonton to only 10 themselves. For a squad as swift and talented as Oilers’ top six is, that’s pretty darn good. Korpisalo is continuing his terrific year (sure you can argue that he probably should’ve had the first goal after it slid under his left pad, but it’s a 50/50 play and a little unfortunate). Anze Kopitar remains steadfastly excellent at defense and by eye test, Mikey Anderson (he did end up -7 in SAT, but he is also primarily being tasked with shutting down Connor McDavid and his line).

The second period was much of the same as the first until Danault broke through with only 5:22 left. Gabriel Vilardi, in his first game back from injury, later tied the game late with just 44 seconds left.



Unfortunately, that’s where the good news ended for L.A. The third period was better than their first, but they simply didn’t have the gas to compete with Edmonton, who was bound and determined to win this game at all costs. Klim Kostin, managing sub-eight minutes time on ice, sealed the game early in the third. Despite a valiant response from the Kings, they were simply unable to generate the offense needed in time. Evander Kane officially ended any comeback hopes with 23 seconds left, scoring in the empty net.

If it seemed like the Oilers were skating literal circles around the Kings, in some instances, they kind of were. Edmonton has a collection of fast skating players and Los Angeles has yet to be able to figure out how to slow them down. There were a lot of bright spots in the game and they showed quite a marked improvement from Game 1. But if there’s any hope of winning the series, they’ll not only need to learn how to keep up with Oilers, but generate shots on goal as well. Stuart Skinner is fully beatable. The Kings just have to not beat themselves first.

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