Ryan Sikes 
The LA Kings fell 6-0 in Game 2 against the Edmonton Oilers after some mistakes from Game 1 carried over.
Penalties were the main storyline throughout this one, with both sides at fault. However, Edmonton was able to capitalize on their opportunities, with Leon Draistail opening the scoring 1:22 into the second period.
We've seen Leon launch many a rocket from there but REALLY?! 💥#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/nY0teYCxg8
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 5, 2022
Darnell Nurse followed less than five minutes later with a short-handed goal to make it 2-0. And with just under four minutes left in the period, Ryan McLeod‘s re-direct made it 3-0.
Alex Iafallo had perhaps the best chance of the game for the Kings, with his shot in the first period drawing iron. Initially, it looked like the puck had gone in and then came back out. But a review after the whistle clearly showed that his shot hit the post.
Iafallo hits the post: https://t.co/639R8epLnz#LAKings #GoKingsGo #GKG pic.twitter.com/uvQZ1r9LnU
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) May 5, 2022
Here are my three takeaways from Wednesday’s game:
1. Special teams, again, are the storyline
After going 0-for-4 on the power-play in Game 1, surely the Kings’ fortunes would be reversed on Wednesday, right? Not only did Los Angeles not convert on any of their power-play opportunities (0-for-4), but they also allowed a backbreaking shorthanded goal. Darnell Nurse tallied his first career playoff goal, giving Edmonton a 2-0 advantage.
Meanwhile, Leon Draisaitl added his second power-play goal in as many games.
We knew that the Kings’ ability to convert on the man advantage would play a big role in the outcome of this series. Dating back to April 27, LA has gone 0 for their last 13 on the power-play. It may not be fixed in this series, but something needs to change over the summer.
“Our power play is what our power play is,” Todd McLellan said. “If anybody in this room, or anywhere else, thinks we’re going to reinvent the wheel on the flight home tomorrow, we aren’t.”
2. Disastrous second period
Just like in Game 1, Edmonton flipped the script in the middle frame. The Kings dominated the pace of play in the first period, outshooting the Oilers 14-12, but Edmonton regained the momentum in the second.
In addition to the Draisaitl and Nurse goals, Ryan McLeod’s re-direction off Evan Bouchard‘s shot from the point got past Jonathan Quick to make it a 3-0 lead for the home team.
The Kings were outshot 19-9, and it would have been a larger goal differential if not for the exceptional play from Quick in the period.
3. The series shifts to Los Angeles
Into the third period, the Oilers had goals just 21 seconds apart. Evander Kane scored after an awkward bounce off Sean Durzi found his own net. Then a defensive lapse led to Jesse Puljujarvi‘s goal, just his fifth goal since December 17.
Throw this game in the trash. Burn the video, and we never speak of it again. Ideally, you’d prefer not to lose that badly, but a loss is a loss at the end of the day.
“It’s a seven-game series. I think we knew going in we weren’t going to go 16-0 in the playoffs,” Matt Roy said. “We just need to put it behind us and move forward.”
The series is tied, and the Kings did their job of stealing one game in Edmonton. Now, it comes down to taking care of business at home on Friday. The Kings must get something, anything going on the power-play.
Let’s see if Todd McLellan makes any lineup adjustments as well.
(Main photo credit: NHL.com)