Edmonton, AB (SportsNetwork.com) – The Edmonton Oilers played the role of
spoiler by dropping the playoff-hopeful Los Angeles Kings 4-2 on Tuesday.
Edmonton was embarrassed by LA last week, losing 8-2 in extending its steak to
14 games without a regulation win against the reigning Stanley Cup champs.
The ignominious drought ended at just the wrong time for the Kings, who fell
two points behind the Flames in the race for third place in the Pacific
Division. The two play a critical must-win game in Calgary on Thursday.
Richard Bachman made 25 saves, Matt Fraser scored twice, and Benoit Pouliot
and Tyler Pitlick also lit the lamp to help the Oilers snap a three-game skid.
One day after losing in a shootout to the Canucks, Kings head coach Darryl
Sutter curiously sat star goaltender Jonathan Quick despite his 14-1-5 career
record against the Oilers.
Martin Jones made 18 saves in relief as Los Angeles also fell three points
behind the Jets for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.
Drew Doughty scored on a seemingly innocuous shot from center ice with 10:22
remaining to pull the Kings within 3-2, but they never found the equalizer.
Fraser’s empty-netter just before the final horn sealed the outcome.
Fraser broke a scoreless tie 2:34 into the second period by scoring off a
rebound. The Oilers were whistled for a delay of game three minutes later, and
shortly after the power play began, Anze Kopitar banked a shot off the back
boards that an unaccounted-for Jake Muzzin snapped in.
A turnover at the midway point of the second period led to a breakaway for
Pouliot, who roofed one in the left corner, and Pitlick scored 5:31 into the
third off another shot that caromed hard off the boards behind the net.
Game Notes
The Kings’ previous regulation loss vs. the Oilers came on Nov. 3, 2011. They
had also earned at least one point (11-0-3) in 14 straight games in Edmonton
… Pitlick had not played since sustaining a spleen injury on Dec. 31 …
Kings forward Dustin Brown played in his 800th career game … The Oilers play
their home finale Thursday against the Sharks.
