Los Angeles Kings Out: Power Play and Penalty Kill Failures Lead to Game 5 Defeat by Oilers

Thursday, May 2nd, 2024

Interim coach Jim Hiller of the Los Angeles Kings pointed to their shortcomings in special team plays as the reason for their playoff exit at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.

Hiller remarked that the outcome hinged on one team's ability to capitalize on special team opportunities, a key advantage that led to the Kings' 4-3 defeat in Game 5. He noted the pivotal role of special teams in the series.

The Oilers managed to net nine goals on the power play over the series, in stark contrast to the Kings, who were unable to score under the same conditions.

Anze Kopitar, center for the Kings, acknowledged the detrimental impact of their special teams performance, emphasizing the need for improvement in those areas.

Even when the Kings successfully fended off penalties, the Oilers' power play proved overbearing, with Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman scoring narrowly after penalties lapsed, demonstrating the relentless pressure applied by Edmonton.

Draisaitl's strategy of scoring over Kings goalie David Rittich's glove was highlighted, as well as the Oilers' commanding power play performance throughout the series.

Defenseman Drew Doughty of the Kings conceded Edmonton's power play prowess, while also suggesting that some of the goals could have been averted with better defensive play.

Connor McDavid, star of the Oilers, praised his team's penalty kill performance for not conceding any goals, underscoring its significance in their success.

This series exit marked a notable moment, being the first instance a team faced elimination by the same opponent in three consecutive playoff seasons since a comparable scenario involving the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild between 2013 and 2015.

Kopitar expressed his disappointment over the outcome, stressing the necessity for the Kings to elevate their gameplay against Edmonton in future encounters.

Following their victory

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