National Hockey League
Los Angeles 4, Edmonton 3
When: 10:00 PM ET, Monday, April 17, 2023
Where: Rogers Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Referees: Eric Furlatt, Trevor Hanson
Linesmen: Steve Barton, James Tobias
Attendance: 18347

Alex Iafallo scored the overtime winner as the visiting Los Angeles Kings erased a two-goal, third-period deficit en route to a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday in the opening game of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Anze Kopitar scored once in a four-point outing and Adrian Kempe tallied two goals for the Kings, who were without a pair of key forwards in Kevin Fiala and Gabriel Vilardi due to injuries. Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo made 37 saves and Viktor Arvidsson collected two assists.

Leon Draisaitl scored twice, and Evan Bouchard found the back of the net once for the Oilers. Goalie Stuart Skinner stopped 31 shots. Captain Connor McDavid, who led the NHL with 64 goals and 153 points in the regular season, was held off the scoresheet.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be Wednesday in Edmonton.

While Edmonton's Vincent Desharnais was in the penalty box for a tripping infraction, Iafallo finished a three-way passing play for the winner at 9:19 of the extra period.

The Oilers appeared to have the game in hand midway through the third period but were left stunned.

With the Kings trailing 3-1, Kempe's second goal of the night made it a one-goal deficit with 8:37 remaining in regulation.

Then Kopitar forced overtime when he pounced on a loose puck for a power-play goal with 16.7 seconds left on the clock. The Kings had the net empty to give them a six-on-four advantage.

Until then, Edmonton was poised to win.

Draisaitl opened the scoring 6:57 into the affair thanks to a lucky bounce, and Bouchard's five-on-three power-play goal doubled the lead at the 12:31 mark of the opening frame.

Kempe kicked off a wild third period when he put the Kings on the board 52 seconds into the frame by lifting a perfect backhand over Skinner's shoulder.

It appeared Draisaitl's second goal, at 8:46 of the final frame, would seal the game, but the Kings clawed back. Draisaitl now has 61 points (20 goals, 41 assists) in 38 career playoff games.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Los Angeles   Edmonton
Anze Kopitar 4 Points Leon Draisaitl 2
Adrian Kempe 2 Goals Leon Draisaitl 2
Anze Kopitar 3 Assists Zach Hyman 1
Anze Kopitar 1 Power Play Goals Evan Bouchard 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Joonas Korpisalo .925 Save Percentage Stuart Skinner .886
Joonas Korpisalo 37 Saves Stuart Skinner 31
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Los Angeles 35 4 2-6 2-3 8 31
Edmonton 40 3 1-3 4-6 14 42
Upcoming Games
  • Edmonton will play their next game at home against Los Angeles. The Oilers have a W/L % of .600 after a win and .625 after a loss.
  • Los Angeles will play their next game on the road against Edmonton. The Kings have a W/L % of .553 after a win and .600 after a loss.