Oilers lock up playoff spot, put Kings on life support
EDMONTON, Alberta -- The Edmonton Oilers clinched their first playoff spot in 11 years and dealt the Los Angeles Kings' postseason hopes a near-fatal blow with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday night at Rogers Place.
Connor McDavid and Eric Gryba scored for the Oilers (42-25-9), who won for the seventh time in the last eight games.
The Kings (35-33-7) are still alive mathematically, but that's about it. They sit 11 points behind St. Louis with just seven games left.
The Oilers had several false starts before they put a goal on the board.
A goal 49 seconds into the first period was wiped out by a goaltender interference call and a shot hit a post midway through the period.
The Oilers eventually scored at 14:44 when McDavid's centering pass banked in off Kings defenseman Derek Forbort.
Los Angeles got that one back at 17:11 when 39-year-old Jarome Iginla won a puck battle along the boards, headed for the net and put a wrist shot top corner on Oilers goalie Cam Talbot.
Edmonton scored again to go up 2-1 in the second period. Gryba's harmless-looking point shot bounced off two Los Angeles defensemen and past goaltender Jonathan Quick at 7:03.
The Oilers had another goal wiped out 2:08 into the third period when a premature whistle cost Zack Kassian.
Edmonton outshot Los Angeles 15-5 in the first 17 minutes of the third period in search of some breathing room but never found it. The final moments were a wild frenzy around the Oilers' net, but the Kings couldn't find the equalizer.
NOTES: Kings leading scorer C Jeff Carter has 31 goals, but just four in his last 20 games. ... The Kings are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the second time in the last three seasons since winning a Stanley Cup in 2014. ... Oilers RW Leon Draisaitl has 14 points in his last eight games. He and captain Connor McDavid have combined for 29 points in the last eight games. ... Oilers D Eric Gryba has two goals this season, both against the LA Kings. ... Oilers W Zack Kassian has had four goals wiped out this season by video review. ... The Kings have 181 goals this season, tied with the Arizona Coyotes for 26th in the NHL. They've been shut out 10 times this season and held to one goal 14 times.