Connor McDavid, Oilers earn shootout win over Kings

Field Level Media|published: Sun 31st December, 01:07 2023

Dec 30, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) moves the puck against Los Angeles Kings center Trevor Lewis (61) and center Anze Kopitar (11) during the first period at Crypto.com Arena. credits: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist and Derek Ryan netted the winner in a shootout to give the visiting Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

Leon Draisaitl also scored for the Oilers, who are riding a four-game winning streak and have won 12 of 15 games. Goaltender Stuart Skinner made 26 saves through regulation and overtime, and he was beaten twice on four shootout attempts.

McDavid played his 600th regular-season game, and he collected his 316th goal and 581st assist (897 points).

Adrian Kempe netted one goal and one assist and Kevin Fiala also scored for the Kings, who have dropped two straight games and have won only four of 10 games (4-4-2). Goalie Cam Talbot stopped 24 shots through regulation and overtime but made only one save in the shootout.

The Kings have a 7-6-4 home record.

In the fourth round of the shootout and with the victory on his stick, Ryan converted a wrist shot from the slot for the winning goal to finish the entertaining and intense clash in which his squad erased a two-goal deficit.

The Kings controlled the first period, outshooting the Oilers by an 11-2 count while claiming a 2-0 lead.

Fiala produced a power-play goal when he ripped a one-timer from the slot to open the scoring at the 14:44 mark. His eighth of the season was set up by Kempe.

With 71 seconds remaining in the frame, Kempe doubled the lead by firing a top-corner, short-side shot as he raced down he wing. It was his 12th of the campaign.

The Oilers responded with a second period that completely flipped the script. McDavid put his team on the board at 5:35 of the frame with a power-play goal, a sharp-angled shot from the side of the net that banked into the goal off Talbot's mask.

Draisaitl tied the game with his 16th of the season at 15:29 of the second when he converted a one-timer set up by McDavid's cross-ice feed.

Edmonton outshot the Kings 13-7 in the middle period and 10-7 in the scoreless third period.

The clubs traded plenty of chances through overtime, but both goalies stood their ground.

—Field Level Media

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