Kings snap skid with victory over Oilers
LOS ANGELES -- Jeff Carter scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings ended a three-game skid with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night at Staples Center.
Devin Setoguichi added an insurance goal, his third of the season, with 6:45 left in the contest as the Kings (8-9-1) beat the Oilers for the 10th consecutive time at home. Carter and Tyler Toffoli each had a goal an assist.
Goaltender Peter Budaj recorded 26 saves for Los Angeles.
Goalie Jonas Gustavsson stopped 21 shots for the Oilers (9-8-1), who have lost five in a row.
Left winger Milan Lucic returned to L.A. to face his former club for the first time. Lucic, who spent much the 2015-16 season with the Kings, recorded three shots on goal in more than 18 minutes of ice time.
Kings captain Anze Kopitar missed his third straight contest with an upper-body injury.
Defenseman Derek Forbort put the Kings on the board, firing a rocket from the blue line past Gustavsson for a 1-0 lead at 5:09 of the first period. It was Forbort's first goal this season.
Less than three minutes later, Carter threaded a pass between Connor McDavid and Adam Larsson to Toffoli, who tapped in the puck for a 2-0 advantage at 7:42. For Toffoli, it was his fifth goal this year.
Edmonton rallied in the second period. The Oilers cut the deficit to 2-1 when defenseman Darnell Nurse took a pass on the wing from a charging Leon Draisaitl and slapped a shot past Budaj for his third goal of the season at 3:44 of the second.
Edmonton defenseman Oscar Klefbom tied the score with a goal at 8:32 of the second.
However, Carter answered 34 seconds later. Carter fielded a pass from Toffoli on a rush and ripped a shot by Gustavsson for a short-handed goal at 9:06 of the period. Carter has six goals this season.
NOTES: The Oilers' penalty-kill percentage on the road ranked second in the NHL before Thursday's contest. Edmonton posted a 92 efficiency rate by allowing just two goals in 25 chances. ... C Anton Lander and D Dillon Simpson were scratched by the Oilers, while D Matt Greene and G Jeff Zatkoff (lower body) were unavailable for the Kings. ... Los Angeles won all five meetings last season. This was the first of five meetings between the two clubs this season. They will play again Dec. 29 at Edmonton. ... The overall series between the teams was 80-80-39 entering the contest. ... Both clubs resume action Saturday. The Oilers play at the Dallas Stars. The Kings host the New Jersey Devils. ... The Kings will unveil a monument Saturday outside Staples Center to commemorate the club's 50th anniversary celebration.