Edmonton Oilers overcome slow start to beat Kings in shootout

The Edmonton Oilers outlasted the Los Angeles Kings for a 3-2 win Saturday night.

“In the first period they wanted it more than us, they were prepared and won a lot of battles,” Oilers Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said after the game. “We didn’t have the puck very much. The Kings didn’t make any mistakes — couldn’t get the puck back. And then we changed a little bit. Just were able to get pucks in the offensive zone. Nothing fancy, just a little more simple and we spent a little more time in the offensive zone and created some scoring chances. But the last 45 minutes I was very happy with our team.”

The Oilers have won four in a row.

The Kings vastly outplayed the Oilers in the first, outshooting them 11-2 and grabbing two goals. Kevin Fiala blasted a slapper past Stuart Skinner on the power play. Then Adriam Kempe found some room down the right side and ripped a shot over Skinner’s left shoulder.

The Oilers finally hit the scoreboard 5:35 into the second. On the power play, Connor McDavid flipped a sharp angle shot off Cam Talbot’s mask and in. During a session of four-on-four hockey later, McDavid set up Leon Draisaitl for a one-timer to make it 2-2.

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The Oilers went on the power play with 8:43 left in the third, but couldn’t muster the go-ahead goal.

Both teams scored on two of their first three shots in the shootout. In the fourth round, Skinner made a glove save on Anze Kopitar. Derek Ryan sped in and beat Talbot glove side to end it.

Skinner finished with 26 saves.

“I thought in overtime there were some big plays,” Skinner said. “Nugy made a glove save on that wrap-around which is pretty impressive. There were so many big plays in there, so I’m really proud of the resiliency in the group.”

McDavid played in his 600th career game.

“Every time we’re in this building it feels like the exact same game,” McDavid said. “Just rinse and repeat. It’s the same game over and over again and we know that and it’s a grind. They’re a great team and I thought we did a good job of just hanging in there. Obviously we didn’t like our first period and just kind of talked about hanging in the game and sticking around and I think we did that all night.”

The Oilers, 17-15-1, will visit the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday (630 CHED, Face-off Show at 4:30 p.m., game at 6 p.m.).