Zach Hyman played a big role in helping the Edmonton Oilers avoid falling behind in the first round of the playoffs.
In his first-ever playoff hat trick, Hyman scored three goals and assisted in one, while Connor McDavid contributed with five assists as the Oilers secured a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1.
McDavid expressed satisfaction with their strong start, emphasizing their two-goal lead in the first period. Adam Henrique, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl, and Warren Foegele also scored for the Oilers, with Evan Bouchard providing four assists.
This win marked a significant departure from their recent playoff history, where they had struggled to win the opening game of a series at home since 1990.
The Oilers goalie, Stuart Skinner, made 33 saves to secure the win. Bouchard praised the team’s performance, highlighting their early lead and resilience against the Kings’ pushback.
Securing the first win of the series at home brought a sense of satisfaction, knowing they had taken the lead in the best-of-seven series, a position where the Oilers have historically excelled with a 21-3 record.
Mikey Anderson, Adrian Kempe, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Trevor Moore scored for the Kings. They were defeated by the Oilers in the first round for the past two seasons. Cam Talbot, the Kings’ goalie, made 38 saves.
Drew Doughty, a veteran defenseman for the Kings, expressed frustration with their performance, emphasizing that it doesn’t align with their usual style of play. He emphasized the need to learn from their mistakes and focus on playing their best hockey in the upcoming games.
Despite the loss, the Kings remain optimistic about their chances in the series, aiming to even the score in Game 2 on Wednesday.
The Oilers took an early lead with goals from Hyman and Henrique. Hyman’s goal was assisted by McDavid, who showcased his skill with a well-executed backhand pass. Henrique’s goal marked his first postseason goal in six years, setting a record for the longest gap between playoff goals in NHL history.
McDavid continued to shine in the second period, assisting Hyman for his second goal of the night. This came shortly after the Kings had a scoring opportunity, with Arvidsson being denied by Skinner on a breakaway.
In the second period, Draisaitl set up Nugent-Hopkins for a power-play goal, extending Edmonton’s lead to 4-0.
The Kings scored their first goal of the game when Anderson fired a long shot past Skinner. However, they were denied a goal shortly after when a video review showed the puck had been redirected into the net off Lewis’s glove.
Kempe narrowed the gap to 4-2 with a shot that deflected off Bouchard and into the net.
Draisaitl scored again early in the third period, increasing the Oilers’ lead. Hyman completed his hat trick with a power-play goal, earning cheers from the fans who threw hats onto the ice.
Dubois and Moore scored late goals for the Kings, but Foegele sealed the win for the Oilers with an empty-netter.
Anže Kopitar surpassed several Kings legends for the second-most playoff games played in franchise history, trailing only Luc Robitaille.
