In the first period of Game 1 of the NHL playoff series on Monday, April 21, 2025, Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (left) and Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman had a scuffle in front of the net in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Los Angeles Kings opened their playoff series with a nail-biting 6-5 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, despite nearly letting a huge lead slip away. What began as a dominant performance turned into a high-stakes thriller that kept fans glued to their seats until the final seconds.
The Kings came out swinging, jumping to a 4-0 lead before the second period ended. Even with that cushion, they couldn’t breathe easily. Edmonton, led by Connor McDavid’s lightning-quick plays, clawed its way back into the game. With just under three minutes left in the third period, the Kings were still up 5-3. But in classic Oilers fashion, they roared back.
Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid each scored with an extra attacker, tying the game with just 1:28 left. For most teams, the momentum shift might have sealed a collapse. But the Kings weren’t ready to fold. With just 42 seconds remaining, Phillip Danault took a shot that barely lifted off his stick—but it did enough. The puck fluttered through traffic and past Edmonton's screen, giving the Kings the win.
Danault couldn’t help but joke afterward: “I got all of it,” he said with a grin, knowing full well it wasn’t his prettiest shot—but it counted when it mattered.
After three straight first-round exits to Edmonton, Los Angeles finally found a way to steal a win in a series opener. Their coach, Jim Hiller, acknowledged it wasn’t perfect but praised his team’s grit. “We could’ve made it less dramatic,” he admitted. “But we finished strong.”
The win marked a rare feat: only the fourth time in Stanley Cup playoff history that a team gave up a four-goal lead and still won in regulation. And it came with Los Angeles enjoying home-ice advantage for the first time in their recent playoff meetings with the Oilers.
Adrian Kempe and Andrei Kuzmenko each had a goal and two assists for the Kings, while Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala also scored and chipped in assists. Darcy Kuemper made 20 saves in the net.
King's captain Anze Kopitar reflected on the near-meltdown. “We didn’t let up,” he said, “but that’s a dangerous team. You give them a window, and they take the whole house.”
On the other side, Edmonton had plenty of fight in them. McDavid was everywhere, scoring a goal and assisting on three others. Hyman added one of his own, as did Leon Draisaitl, Mattias Janmark, and Corey Perry. Stuart Skinner faced a barrage of shots and made 24 saves.
Coach Kris Knoblauch praised his team's effort in the comeback, saying, “They don’t rattle. They stay in it no matter what.” Still, forward Adam Henrique admitted the ending stung. “It’s tough giving up that last one right after tying it,” he said.
Game 2 is set for Wednesday night in Los Angeles. If this opener was any sign, the rest of the series will be one to watch.
