Oilers Rally To Beat Kings 2-1 In OT
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Sam Gagner scored a power-play goal 3:01 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers rallied past the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Thursday night, leaving the defending Stanley Cup champions winless in three games this season.
Nail Yakupov tied it for the Oilers with 4.7 seconds left in the third period. His exuberant celebration took him to center ice, where he dropped to his knees and slid into Edmonton's defensive zone.
Gagner then snuck in from the point to score the game-winner after the Kings were caught with too many men on the ice.
Jeff Carter scored for Los Angeles (0-2-1), winless after three games for the first time since the 1985-86 season.
There was a crazy finish to regulation in this one.
Edmonton appeared to tie it with 1:05 left in the third on a goal by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, but after video review the officials ruled that Gagner was in the crease and the goal was not allowed. Irate fans littered the ice with debris -- they thought Rob Scuderi had pushed Gagner into Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick on the play.
However, the Oilers did pull even a minute later. Yakupov was able to bat down a rebound at the side of the net for his second goal of the season, with Edmonton goalie Devan Dubnyk on the bench for an extra attacker.
The game started much slower than it ended. The Kings had a good opportunity early with a two-man advantage for 2 minutes, but couldn't capitalize despite twice hitting the post behind Dubnyk.
Los Angeles had plenty of power-play chances in the first half of the opening frame, but went 0 for 5 with the man advantage.
After weathering the storm, the Oilers were awarded a two-man power play of their own. But they couldn't find the back of the net against Quick.
The shots favored Edmonton 14-8 in the scoreless first.
The Oilers had a chance to get the game's first goal 6 minutes into the second period on a two-on-one but Quick robbed Yakupov with a huge glove save.
Los Angeles finally broke the scoreless tie with 6 1/2 minutes remaining in the second period when a giveaway by Edmonton defender Nick Schultz allowed Carter to get loose on a breakaway. He made the most of it, beating Dubnyk high to the stick side for his first goal of the season.
Dubnyk earned the win with 30 saves, while Quick stopped 37 shots for the Kings.
NOTES: It was the first of three meetings between the teams this season. The clubs split their four-game series in 2011-12. ... The Kings brought an eight-game point streak in Edmonton into the game, having gone 7-0-1 in that span since a regulation loss at Rexall Place on Feb. 28, 2008. ... Los Angeles went 0 for 2 on the power play in its first two games. .. The Oilers were without forward Ben Eager, out indefinitely with a concussion. Also out for Edmonton were Andy Sutton (knee), Theo Peckham (hip flexor), Ryan Jones (eye) and Nikolai Khabibulin (hip). ... Kings defenseman Matt Greene (back) was placed on injured reserve this week and will likely miss the remainder of the season. Willie Mitchell (knee surgery) is also out, but he practiced this week. ... Former Oiler Dustin Penner was a healthy scratch for the Kings. Fellow forward Simon Gagne was also a healthy scratch for Los Angeles as the Kings tried to send a message after a slow start to the season. ... Edmonton native Mark Fistric made his debut on defense for the Oilers after being acquired via trade from the Dallas Stars for a third-round pick.
