Adrian Kempe’s shootout winner lifts Kings past Oilers
Adrian Kempe scored the shootout winner as the visiting Los Angeles Kings edged the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on Saturday night.
Corey Perry, Andre Lee, and Alex Laferriere scored in regulation for the Kings, who avoided a third straight loss and improved to 5-7-3 over their past 15 games overall.
Brandt Clarke picked up a pair of assists, and goaltender Anton Forsberg made 21 saves.
With the win, the Kings improved to 5-1-1 in the second half of back-to-backs this season. Los Angeles dropped a 5-1 decision in Winnipeg on Friday night.
Leon Draisaitl scored twice, and Connor McDavid also found the back of the net for the Oilers. Evan Bouchard added a pair of helpers.
Connor Ingram stopped 27 shots to drop to 0-3-2 lifetime against the Kings.
McDavid tied it 3-3 on a 5-on-3 power play at 9:20 of the third, snapping a shot under the blocker of Forsberg for his 30th of the season, extending his point streak to a career-high 18 games. The Oilers' captain has 19 goals and 23 assists during the streak.
Los Angeles took its first lead of the night at 3:42 of the third period as Laferriere redirected a Clarke shot past Ingram.
Draisaitl gave Edmonton a 2-1 lead at 1:07 of the middle frame, one-timing an Evan Bouchard cross-ice feed between the pads of Forsberg. Saturday was Draisaitl's 71st career multi-goal game, surpassing Mark Messier for the fourth most in Oilers history.
The Kings responded 2:35 later as Lee tipped in a cross-ice feed from Quinton Byfield for his first of the season. With the helper, Byfield extended his point streak to five games (two goals, three assists).
Draisaitl opened the scoring, one-timing a Kasperi Kapanen feed past Forsberg at 9:12.
Los Angeles tied it 1-1 on a power play at 17:50 as Perry banged home the rebound off Clarke's point shot for his 10th of the season.
Saturday was the first of three meetings between the Pacific Division rivals and the first since last spring's Stanley Cup playoffs, during which Edmonton dispatched Los Angeles in six games. The Oilers have eliminated the Kings in the first round in four consecutive seasons.