EDMONTON, Alberta — In a thrilling matchup on Monday night, Connor McDavid netted a goal in the second period, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a narrow 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. This win marked the Oilers’ second consecutive triumph and their sixth victory in the last seven games, allowing them to surpass the Kings and secure second place in the Pacific Division. Currently, the Oilers are just four points behind league leaders, the Vegas Golden Knights.
Stuart Skinner was in remarkable form, turning aside 31 shots and achieving his second shutout of the season, which also marked the sixth of his career. On the opposing side, Kings’ goalkeeper Darcy Kuemper recorded 29 saves but faced defeat, as his team has now endured back-to-back losses following a five-game winning streak.
Observations from the Game:
For Los Angeles, Kuemper entered the contest boasting an impressive record of 12 wins, 2 losses, and 5 overtime losses, along with a solid Goals Against Average (GAA) of 2.16 and a .921 save percentage. In his previous 10 games, he had been able to secure at least a point, a feat that only three goalies in Kings’ history have accomplished, with the last being Robb Stauber in 1992.
In contrast, Connor McDavid celebrated his 28th birthday with a milestone achievement, as he reached a significant point total of 1,040 points by the age of 28—tying him with Steve Yzerman for third place in NHL history for points accrued by that age. Notably, McDavid achieved this landmark in 73 fewer games than Yzerman. The only players who surpassed him by age 28 are the legendary Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, with 1,773 and 1,174 points, respectively.
The pivotal moment of the match came with only 1:23 remaining in the second period. Leon Draisaitl outpaced the competition to win the puck, maneuvering behind the net and delivering a pass to Darnell Nurse. Although Nurse’s powerful shot was saved by Kuemper, the rebound landed perfectly for McDavid, who skillfully scored, recording his 17th goal of the season.
Noteworthy Statistics:
Los Angeles dropped to a record of 13 wins, 4 losses, and 2 overtime losses since November 27, achieving a points percentage of .737. In contrast, the Edmonton Oilers improved their record to an impressive 16 wins, 4 losses, and 1 overtime loss, securing the top position in the league with a points percentage of .786.
Looking ahead, the Kings will be traveling to Vancouver for their next game on Thursday, while the Oilers are set to face off against Minnesota on Wednesday.
