Oilers triumph over Kings in game 5, securing a 3-1 victory and a 3-2 series advantage, courtesy of a goal scored by Mattias Janmark, with the next fixture set in Edmonton.
Exciting Playoff Action as Oilers Edge Kings!
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*LOS ANGELES – Mattias Janmark delivered the decisive blow in the third period, and the Edmonton Oilers snatched a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night, securing their third consecutive triumph and a commanding 3-2 advantage in their first-round playoff series. This enthralling battle is far from over, with Game 6 set for Edmonton on Thursday, where the Oilers have a chance to seal their progression to the next round.
The Oilers were cunningly persistent throughout Game 5, dominating the possession and shots, and finally reaping their rewards when Janmark converted a rebound on Viktor Arvidsson's shot with 12:48 on the clock. As the tension mounted, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sealed the deal with an empty-net goal, recording the Oilers' franchise-record third consecutive come-from-behind victory in the playoffs.
"We knew we could outplay them, and we just kept pushing," Janmark explained, "even when they scored, we hit back, and we managed to take the win."
The Kings, the second seeds, are now on the brink of their fourth consecutive first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Oilers, despite earning two home victories in the series initial encounters and possessing the third-period lead in the following two contests. Los Angeles even enjoyed a narrow advantage in the final minutes of Game 4, only to succumb in overtime.
In a surprising turn of events, Edmonton has reversed the series trend since a slow start, subtly capturing the upper hand. The Oilers have outshot the Kings by a staggering 79-35 margin since the third period of Game 4.
"The Oilers outplayed us in every facet of the game tonight," conceded Kings coach Jim Hiller. "They were stronger and more dominating. We can't pin our hopes on one aspect of our game because they were better in every way, except for the power play, which is oddly enough."
In the opening frame, Darcy Kuemper made 19 saves as Los Angeles took the early lead, courtesy of Andrei Kuzmenko's strike from a Kopitar captain assist. Given his recent arrival at the Kings, Kuzmenko has demonstrated impressive form, amassing 23 points in 27 games for the struggling side[5].
However, the Oilers responded swiftly, evading Andrei Kempe's knee-on-knee hit during the subsequent period, with Evander Kane converting their first power-play goal of the series from the slot. Determined to push back, the Oilers continued to test Kuemper, registering 33 shots in the opening two periods, marking a season high for Los Angeles[2].
"We were desperate like we were in the third period and overtime the last game," expressed Oilers goalkeeper Calvin Pickard. "And we won 60 minutes of the contest."
[1] Sportsnet.ca. (2025). 2025 NHL Regular Season Standings | Sportsnet.ca. [online] Available at: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/standings/ [Accessed 2025].
[2] Los Angeles Times. (2025). LA Kings lose in must-win game to Edmonton Oilers. [online] Available at: https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2025-04-27/la-kings-lose-in-must-win-game-to-edmonton-oilers. Paul, J. [Accessed 2025].
[3] Sportsnet.ca. (2025). NHL Player Stats | Sportsnet.ca. [online] Available at: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/stats/ [Accessed 2025].
[4] NHL.com. (2025). LA Kings vs Edmonton Oilers 2025 First Round Playoffs Recap. [online] Available at: https://www.nhl.com/news/la-kings-vs-edmonton-oilers-first-round-playoffs-recap/c-313012992 [Accessed 2025].
[5] Sportsnet.ca. (2025). LA Kings Roster. [online] Available at: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/roster/teams/lak [Accessed 2025].
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The Oilers' third consecutive win in the NHL playoff series against the Kings was highlighted by Mattias Janmark's goal in the third period, securing a 3-1 victory and a 3-2 series advantage for Edmonton. In the media, analysis of the game underscores the Oilers' dominance, outshooting the Kings 79-35 since Game 4, with the Kings facing a possible fourth consecutive first-round playoff exit.
The media's attention will now shift towards Thursday's Game 6, where the Oilers have a chance to secure their progression to the next round and potentially end the Kings' playoff misfortunes.
