LOS ANGELES — In a decisive victory, Kevin Fiala netted his 30th goal of the season while Darcy Kuemper impressed with 27 saves in his fifth shutout of the season, leading the Los Angeles Kings to a 3-0 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. Moreover, the Kings secured a playoff spot later that evening due to Vegas triumphing over Calgary.
Adding to the scoreboard for the Kings were Andrei Kuzmenko and Trevor Lewis. Los Angeles remains within striking distance of Pacific Division leaders, Vegas, trailing by three points after Vegas clinched a 3-2 overtime win against Calgary. This win also puts the Kings four points ahead of third-placed Edmonton.
On the Oilers’ side, Calvin Pickard contributed with 26 saves. Recent positive momentum was halted for Edmonton, who were on a three-game winning streak. This game marked the Oilers’ first without star center Leon Draisaitl, sidelined with a lower-body injury sustained against San Jose on Thursday. The key player, known for hitting the 50-goal milestone, is expected back before the playoffs commence on April 19.
A scoreless first period saw its break midway through the second, with Fiala scoring after capitalizing on the rebound from Alex Laferriere’s shot, giving the Kings a lasting lead.
**Takeaways**
**Oilers:** Newcomer Trent Frederic made his debut for Edmonton. Acquired in a three-team deal from Boston on March 4, Frederic had been out with an ankle injury till now.
**Kings:** A dynamic top line featuring Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe, and Kuzmenko has produced an impressive 17 goals and 22 assists over the last 16 games since Kuzmenko joined the squad through a trade involving a third-round pick in 2027.
**Key Moment**
The turning point came in the second period when what could have been AHL player Jeff Malott’s inaugural goal was revoked following an Edmonton coaching challenge. Despite the overturned call, it stirred the Kings to take assertive control over the match.
**Key Stat**
Fiala and Kempe achieved a notable milestone, becoming the first Kings duo to each amass 30 goals in a season since Kopitar and Dustin Brown accomplished this feat in the 2007-08 season.
**Up Next**
Looking towards their next matches, both teams will take the ice again Monday night. The Oilers travel to face Anaheim, while the Kings will host the Seattle team.