That was a familiar game for the Edmonton Oilers.

After four games on the road, the Oilers returned home to host the Los Angeles Kings in what felt like a playoff preview. Edmonton and Los Angeles have met in the first round in three consecutive seasons and there&#8217;s a chance they&#8217;ll square off again in the spring.
It&#8217;s never easy and it&#8217;s always a little ugly, but the Oilers know how to beat the Kings. It took seven games in 2022, six games in 2023, and five games in 2024, which suggests the gap is widening between the two teams year after year.
Don&#8217;t tell that to the Kings, though, as getting past the Oilers is their benchmark for success. With the two rivals only a few points apart in the Pacific Division standings, both sides brought a defence-first, tight-checking approach on Monday night in Edmonton.
The Kings came out hard in the first period and threw 14 shots on goal but couldn&#8217;t get one past Stuart Skinner, who looked like a wall between the pipes. Connor McDavid scored in the second period and the Oilers clamped down in the third frame to complete the 1-0 victory.
<blockquote>“It&#8217;s always that way with L.A., always that kind of grinding, low-scoring, low-event hockey,” <a href="https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1879047446699082040">McDavid said after the game</a>. “We know how to play these games with them.
“I thought we maybe beat them at their own game today. Just playing patient, finding a way to get one, and holding on for a win.”</blockquote>
It was a nice 28th birthday celebration for Edmonton&#8217;s captain, as McDavid scored the 72nd game-winning goal of his NHL career, tying him with Hall of Famer Glenn Anderson for the most in team history.
While McDavid&#8217;s name will show up in most of the headlines, the star of the game for the Oilers was their goaltender, as Skinner turned aside all 30 shots that he faced for his second shutout of the season.
<blockquote>“It was very much a playoff game where two teams just went at it and played really solid,” <a href="https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1879044972760142200">Skinner said</a>. “Darcy (Kuemper) was fantastic and made some incredible saves, especially in the third where we could have gotten a few and he just took it away.
“They’re a heck of a team. They know how to play us as well as we know how to play them. That is what makes it so much fun and so exciting. I’m really happy that we were able to get this win, especially after they beat us last game (4-3 in overtime in Los Angeles on December 28).&#8221;</blockquote>
With the win, the Oilers moved four points clear of the Kings in the standings, though Los Angeles has two games in hand on Edmonton. The Oilers are also four points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for the top spot in the Pacific Division with the same amount of games played.
After just one game at home, the Oilers will hit the road for a three-game trip against the Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, and Vancouver Canucks.

That was a familiar game for the Edmonton Oilers.



After four games on the road, the Oilers returned home to host the Los Angeles Kings in what felt like a playoff preview. Edmonton and Los Angeles have met in the first round in three consecutive seasons and there's a chance they'll square off again in the spring.

It's never easy and it's always a little ugly, but the Oilers know how to beat the Kings. It took seven games in 2022, six games in 2023, and five games in 2024, which suggests the gap is widening between the two teams year after year.

Don't tell that to the Kings, though, as getting past the Oilers is their benchmark for success. With the two rivals only a few points apart in the Pacific Division standings, both sides brought a defence-first, tight-checking approach on Monday night in Edmonton.

The Kings came out hard in the first period and threw 14 shots on goal but couldn't get one past Stuart Skinner, who looked like a wall between the pipes. Connor McDavid scored in the second period and the Oilers clamped down in the third frame to complete the 1-0 victory.
<blockquote>“It's always that way with L.A., always that kind of grinding, low-scoring, low-event hockey,” <a href="https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1879047446699082040">McDavid said after the game</a>. “We know how to play these games with them.

“I thought we maybe beat them at their own game today. Just playing patient, finding a way to get one, and holding on for a win.”</blockquote>
It was a nice 28th birthday celebration for Edmonton's captain, as McDavid scored the 72nd game-winning goal of his NHL career, tying him with Hall of Famer Glenn Anderson for the most in team history.

While McDavid's name will show up in most of the headlines, the star of the game for the Oilers was their goaltender, as Skinner turned aside all 30 shots that he faced for his second shutout of the season.
<blockquote>“It was very much a playoff game where two teams just went at it and played really solid,” <a href="https://x.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1879044972760142200">Skinner said</a>. “Darcy (Kuemper) was fantastic and made some incredible saves, especially in the third where we could have gotten a few and he just took it away.

“They’re a heck of a team. They know how to play us as well as we know how to play them. That is what makes it so much fun and so exciting. I’m really happy that we were able to get this win, especially after they beat us last game (4-3 in overtime in Los Angeles on December 28)."</blockquote>
With the win, the Oilers moved four points clear of the Kings in the standings, though Los Angeles has two games in hand on Edmonton. The Oilers are also four points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for the top spot in the Pacific Division with the same amount of games played.

After just one game at home, the Oilers will hit the road for a three-game trip against the Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, and Vancouver Canucks.

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