Kings beat Oilers 3-0, then qualify for playoffs hours later with Vegas’ win in Calgary
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Fiala scored his 30th goal of the season, Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves in his fifth shutout of the season and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 on Saturday, then wrapped a playoff hours later when Vegas beat Calgary.
Andrei Kuzmenko and Trevor Lewis also scored.
Los Angeles remained three points behind Pacific Division-leading Vegas — a 3-2 overtime winner in Calgary in the last game of the night — and is four points ahead of third-place Edmonton.
Calvin Pickard made 26 saves for the Oilers, who had won three in a row.
It was Edmonton’s first game since center Leon Draisaitl sustained a lower-body injury against San Jose on Thursday that will keep the 50-goal scorer out in the short term. Draisaitl is expected to return before the playoffs begin on April 19.
After a scoreless first period, Fiala put the Kings ahead for good midway through the second when he scored on the rebound of a shot by Alex Laferriere.
Takeaways
Oilers: Trent Frederic made his Edmonton debut. The forward was acquired from Boston in a three-team trade on March 4 and had been sidelined because of an ankle injury.
Kings: The first line of Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe and Kuzmenko has combined for 17 goals and 22 assists in the 16 games since Kuzmenko arrived for a 2027 third-round pick.
Key moment
What looked to be the first career goal for AHL workman Jeff Malott early in the second was overturned because of an Edmonton coach’s challenge. However, the electric offensive play sparked the Kings to take charge of the game.
Key stat
Fiala and Kempe are the first pair of Kings to each score 30 goals in a season since Kopitar and Dustin Brown in 2007-08.
Up next
Both teams play Monday night. The Oilers visit Anaheim, and the Kings host Seattle.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
By DAN GREENSPAN
Associated Press
