The LA Kings battled back from two 2-goal deficits in Game 1 to top the Edmonton Oilers, 4-3, in overtime on Monday night.

First Period

No easing into this one. Less than three minutes into the game, Warren Foegele barreled toward the net and into Joonas Korpisalo. No call was made on the ice. Instead, the officials got together, looked at the video, and ruled a no-goal due to goaltender contact.

Just under seven minutes in, the Oilers opened the scoring on Leon Draisaitl‘s first of this postseason.

After Draisaitl dumped the puck into the left corner, Mattias Janmark came out with the puck, sending a pass that went off Matt Roy‘s skate and right to Draisaitl, who ripped a shot past Korpisalo.

With under nine minutes left in the period, the Kings committed back-to-back penalties on plays to prevent Connor McDavid from scoring, making them shorthanded 5-on-3 for 1:30.

And the Oilers took advantage on Evan Bouchard‘s snipe from the high slot. Just like that, 2-0 Edmonton.

With Bouchard going off for two minutes for interference, the Kings’ powerplay got its first chance. However, Los Angeles never really had a legit scoring chance, broken up by one too many passes, or the shots didn’t get through.

The first-period horn couldn’t have come at a better time; 9-6 shots on goal advantage for Edmonton.

Second Period

Early into the second period, Quinton Byfield was tripped up attempting to enter the attacking zone, sending the Kings to their second powerplay of the game. Their second look on the powerplay was much better with Kaliyev firing off back-to-back shots, but Los Angeles was unable to get anything past Stuart Skinner.

Shortly after the powerplay expired, Byfield drew another penalty. The LA Kings had plenty of chances to score, with Sean Durzi firing rockets on Skinner, but the Oilers very nearly scored a shorthanded goal on the 2-on-1 rush.

As expected coming into this series, Edmonton brought the physicality in the first 30 minutes, but it was good to see the Kings respond with two big hits from Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Carl Grundstrom.

Bouchard nearly made it a 3-0 lead for the Oilers, knifing through the Kings’ defense and ringing one off the post with just under seven to play in the period.

Evander Kane committed a high-sticking penalty on Adrian Kempe with 1:03 left, sending the Kings to their third powerplay of the period. However, Alex Iafallo returned the favor, making it 4-on-4.

After two periods, the Oilers carried a 23-16 shots on goal advantage.

Third Period

Los Angeles finally broke through early in the third period, with Adrian Kempe getting the Kings on the board.

After Gavrikov made a terrific diving play at one end, LA started the play the other way, with Kopitar leading the breakout with a pass up ice to Matt Roy. The Kings defenseman dished it to Kempe and skated toward the net, creating enough of a screen that allowed Kempe to send a beautiful backhand snipe into the back of the net.

On the delayed penalty, the Oilers made it a two-goal lead again with just over 11 minutes left in regulation on Draisaitl’s second of the night, cleaning up a loose puck after some chaos in the front of the Kings’ net.

With just over eight minutes remaining and an offensive zone faceoff, Byfield was quick to circle around the faceoff dot to swat the puck over to Kempe, who wristed a shot past Skinner for his second tally of the night.

Trevor Moore drew a high-sticking penalty late in regulation. Korpisalo headed to the bench shortly into the man advantage, giving the Kings six attackers on the ice.

And they finally cashed in.

Viktor Arvidsson skated the puck in along the left wing, sending a backhand cross-ice pass to Philip Danault, who wired a shot on net. Skinner initially turned it aside, but the puck settled in front of the net for Kopitar, who buried the puck with 16.7 seconds left in regulation.

Overtime

It looked like the Oilers had made quick work of the extra session, with Derek Ryan redirecting the puck in front. However, it was a clear high sticking and the goal was overturned. Play on.

Blake Lizotte drew a tripping penalty in the extra session, and the LA Kings scored on a tic-tac-toe play in front, with Alex Iafallo netting the overtime winner.

Game 2 is on Wednesday, with puck drop set for 7 pm PT.

(Featured Image Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports)

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