Quinton Byfield delivered the decisive blow in overtime, scoring his second goal of the game with just 1:41 left to give the Los Angeles Kings a thrilling 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Byfield’s wrist shot from the right circle handed the Kings a victory in their first regular-season meeting with the Oilers, who have eliminated Los Angeles from the playoffs in three consecutive seasons. This win extended the Kings’ home streak to six games, while Darcy Kuemper made 24 saves in net.
Warren Foegele had a strong outing, contributing a goal and two assists, and Tanner Jeannot also scored for the Kings. Together with Byfield, Foegele and Jeannot combined for seven points and a plus-7 rating. The Kings revamped their roster in the offseason, acquiring Foegele and Jeannot to help match the Oilers’ physical play, which had been a factor in Los Angeles’ playoff exits. The additions paid off as they played a pivotal role in the victory.
Edmonton’s offense saw contributions from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who scored a power-play goal, and Kasperi Kapanen and Viktor Arvidsson, who each found the back of the net. However, the Oilers’ three-game winning streak was snapped with the loss. Despite a solid performance from Stuart Skinner, who recorded 24 saves, Edmonton couldn’t hold onto a lead. The Oilers have been dominant when leading after two periods this season, but the loss dropped their record to 16-2-3 in such situations.
The turning point of the game came in overtime when Jeannot stole the puck from Evan Bouchard along the boards, allowing the Kings to gain possession. This shift drained Edmonton’s top players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who were forced to defend intensely before Byfield’s game-winner. Jeannot’s play in overtime exemplified the Kings’ physicality and their ability to wear down the Oilers’ key players.
McDavid and Draisaitl continued to impress with their point streaks. McDavid extended his to 10 games, marking his 16th point streak of 10 or more games, placing him second in NHL history behind Wayne Gretzky. The Kings and Oilers were both back in action the next day, with Edmonton visiting Anaheim and Los Angeles hosting Philadelphia, setting the stage for more intense matchups.
