The Edmonton Oilers were defeated 6-5 by the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round at Crypto.com Arena on Monday (April 21). Los Angeles leads the best-of-seven series 1-0.
Related: Kings Survive Epic Collapse Against Oilers to Take 1-0 Series Lead
It was a wild affair, as Edmonton battled back after falling behind 4-0 and erased a three-goal deficit in the third period only to watch Kings forward Phillip Danault tally with 42 seconds remaining to lift Los Angeles to victory.
Once the dust settled and the smoke cleared, the stats told the tale of just how crazy things got on this spring night in SoCal. Here’s a look:
Skinner’s Playoff Drought Ends
Edmonton’s Jeff Skinner made his NHL postseason debut after going a record 1,078 career regular season games without a Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance.
While he’s only been able to watch playoff hockey over the last 14 years, Skinner clearly knew that the physicality gets ramped up several notches. The veteran forward dished out five hits, equalling the most he’s ever had in an NHL regular season game. He also recorded an assist in his first career playoff contest.
Oilers Throw Their Weight Around
Jeff Skinner wasn’t the only Oiler who decided to start throwing the body in Game 1: Five other Edmonton skaters registered at least four hits, led by winger Zach Hyman (who notched Edmonton’s fourth goal on Monday) with six.
While the Oilers had the NHL’s fewest hits in 2024-25, averaging just over 15 per 60 minutes, they wound up outhitting Los Angeles 42-30 in Game 1. Those 42 hits are more than Edmonton recorded in all but one of its 82 regular season games.
Draisaitl Loves Playing L.A.
Leon Draisaitl got his team on the board with only six seconds remaining in the second period, cutting the Kings’ lead to 4-1. He’s now got at least one point in 15 consecutive postseason games against Los Angeles.
With that, the superstar Oilers centre is tied for the fourth-longest point streak against a single opponent in Stanley Cup Playoff history. The record is shared by Oilers Hall of Famers Mark Messier (19 straight games, also against the Kings) and Wayne Gretzky (19 straight games against the Calgary Flames).
Janmark Flips His Playoff Switch
Oilers forward Mattias Janmark scored 2:19 into the final frame, pulling Edmonton within two goals of Los Angeles at 4-2. It was the first time since Jan. 27 that the veteran Swede has lit the lamp.
Janmark cuts the deficit to two! ????
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 22, 2025
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While Janmark has been woeful offensively, scoring just twice in 80 games this season, he continues to prove himself as a postseason point-producer: after Game 1 in Los Angeles, Janmark now has more goals in his last five playoff contests (three) than in his last 107 regular season outings (two). Janmark scored four times in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, equalling his goal total for the entire 2023-24 regular season.
Perry Rewrites History
Forward Corey Perry scored Edmonton’s third goal, 7:43 into the third period, breaking his own record for the oldest player to score in the postseason for the Oilers. He had established the record last year when he tallied in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers. At that time, his age was 39 years and 33 days. He’s now less than four weeks shy of turning 40, on May 16.
Perry is also the oldest player to score in a Stanley Cup Playoff game since 2021, when Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joe Thornton tallied against the Montreal Canadiens at the age of 41 years and 327 days.
Teams Trade Late Goals
Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored at 18:32 of the third period, pulling Edmonton even with Los Angeles at five goals apiece. That marked just the fourth time in their Stanley Cup Playoff history that the Oilers have tied the game with a goal in the final 90 seconds. But unbelievably, the Oilers have lost all four of those games.
On Monday, it was Danault breaking Edmonton’s hearts when he put the puck past Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner at 19:18 of the third period. Danault’s tally was the third latest game-winning goal (non-overtime) allowed by the Oilers in their NHL postseason history, and the latest (non-overtime) go-ahead goal ever scored in the playoffs by the Kings.
Four Third Period Goals Is One Too Few
The Oilers scored four times over the final 20 minutes, tying for the third-most goals in the third period in their NHL postseason history. But a quartet of third period tallies wasn’t enough for the Oilers, who also gave up two goals in the final frame.
This was the first time in franchise history that Edmonton lost when scoring at least four goals in the third period of a Stanley Cup Playoff game. Before Monday, the Oilers had been 16-0 in such a scenario.
At least Edmonton has figured out how to score against the Kings. Before Draisaitl broke the seal on Monday, the Oilers had managed just one goal over the previous 251 minutes and 14 seconds of game time (regular season and postseason combined) against Los Angeles. Edmonton will look to carry its offensive momentum into Game 2 on Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena.
