Kings end Oilers' five-game winning streak
LOS ANGELES -- Nick Shore registered a goal and three assists, and Dustin Brown added a goal and an assist as the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Edmonton Oilers 6-4 on Tuesday.
Los Angeles (38-34-7) won for the third time in its past four games despite being eliminated from playoff contention. Rookie Jonny Brodzinski registered his first two NHL points, a pair of assists. Jonathan Quick stopped 23 Edmonton shots.
Edmonton (44-26-9) saw a five-game winning streak snapped and now trails the Anaheim Ducks for first place in the Pacific Division by four points, with a game in hand and three games remaining. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored two goals for the Oilers.
The Sharks and the Oilers each have 97 points, but Edmonton has one additional game remaining. The teams meet in San Jose on Thursday.
The Kings took the lead for good via third-period goals by Trevor Lewis and Tanner Pearson. Lewis' 11th goal of the season, at 1:40, gave the Kings the lead for good. Pearson added the decisive goal, his 24th of the season, at 10:09.
Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse scored his sixth goal of the season at 13:48 to draw the Oilers to within 5-4, but Drew Doughty added an empty-net goal, his 10th score of the season, at 18:39 for the final margin.
Edmonton took a 1-0 on Milan Lucic's 20th goal of the season on the power play at 2:31 of the first period. Lucic gathered in the puck after a failed clearance by Kings defenseman Derek Forbort off a Connor McDavid rush, and the Oilers winger easily beat Quick. Oscar Klefbom drew the secondary assist.
The Oilers extended their lead to 2-0 on Nugent-Hopkins' 17th goal of the season, at 11:13 of the first period. Jordan Eberle gained possession and was left alone behind the Los Angeles net. He found Nugent-Hopkins at the left post for an easy tap-in, with Kris Russell earning the secondary helper.
The Kings fashioned a three-goal, second-period comeback to take a short-lived 3-2 lead. Nick Shore scored his sixth goal of the season to draw Los Angeles within one at 2:22, and Dustin Brown potted his 12th at 12:29 to forge the first tie of the game. Nic Dowd then added his sixth goal at 15:30 to give Los Angeles its first lead.
Edmonton quickly responded to tie the game at 3-3. Nugent-Hopkins potted his second goal by splitting Los Angeles defensemen Drew Doughty and Forbort to beat Quick with a backhander at 16:46.
NOTES: Edmonton scratched C Matt Hendricks, RW Iiro Pakarinen and D Eric Gryba. ... In addition to Connor McDavid leading the league in scoring, Edmonton RW Leon Draisaitl has moved into the eighth spot. He has registered 75 points (27 goals) through 79 games, setting career highs for points, goals and assists. The last time the Oilers finished an NHL season with two top-10 scorers was in 1988-89 (Jari Kurri was eighth, Jimmy Carson ninth). ... Los Angeles did not dress RW Marian Gaborik, C Andy Andreoff, D Kevin Gravel and C Jordan Nolan. ... With his next goal, Kings RW Jarome Iginla will surpass Joe Sakic for 15th all-time in goals scored, and Iginla's next point will give him 1,300.