Kings Eliminated by Oilers as NHL Fans Hail Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl Dominance
May 2, 2024For the third straight season, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl ensured the Los Angeles Kings didn't make it past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Kings were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night after McDavid and Draisaitl dominated in a 4-3 Game 5 victory.
After Alex Laferriere took advantage of a fortunate carom off the boards to tie the score late in the first period, Blake Lizotte put the Kings ahead in the second.
Los Angeles got to enjoy that lead for fewer than five minutes before Draisaitl took over.
Draisaitl scored twice off assists from McDavid just minutes apart, once on a power-play and another in the seconds after a man advantage expired, in order to give the Oilers back the lead.
NHL @NHLLEON x 2‼️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a><br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EdmontonOilers</a> grab the lead back with Leon Draisaitl's second of the game! 🟠🔵<br><br>🇺🇸: <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn</a> ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W">https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W</a><br>🇨🇦: <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ <a href="https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1">https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1</a> <a href="https://t.co/oISIWvlT0J">pic.twitter.com/oISIWvlT0J</a>
Adrian Kempe scored to bring the Kings within one with just over two minutes remaining.
Los Angeles then pulled the goaltender, but Draisaitl drew a penalty to bring things back to even strength and allow the Oilers to seal the win.
Including the series-clinching go-ahead goal, Draisaitl closed out the first round with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in five games.
McDavid meanwhile made history with his pair of assists, which increased his first-round point total to 12 points (one goal, 11 assists.)
NHL Public Relations @PR_NHLConnor McDavid assisted on both of Leon Draisaitl's goals to boost his totals in the First Round to 1-11—12 (5 GP) and joined an elite list in the process. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StanleyCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StanleyCup</a><br><br>Catch him in action on <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPN</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/TVASports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TVASports</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLStats?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHLStats</a>: <a href="https://t.co/zVtyWjUNDt">https://t.co/zVtyWjUNDt</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ypj1BQrmtA">pic.twitter.com/Ypj1BQrmtA</a>
Rachel Doerrie @racheldoerrieMcDavid's ability to raise his level (somehow) in the playoffs is incredible. Same for Draisaitl. Their career points per game in the playoffs rank 3rd & 4th all-time behind Gretzky & Lemieux. Outrageous that they don't have a Cup Final appearance. Almost impossible to fathom… <a href="https://t.co/0wYhMwhsUq">https://t.co/0wYhMwhsUq</a>
The Kings will now suffer their third straight first-round exit at the hands of the Oilers, continuing what is now almost a decade of early playoff exits.
Los Angeles has not advanced past the first round since the team won the Stanley Cup in 2014.
The Oilers will meanwhile advance to face the winner of the first-round series between the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators.
Edmonton is hoping to make a deeper run than last year, when they were ousted by the eventual champion Vegas Golden Knights in the second round.
The Canucks hold a 3-2 series advantage, and could win a ticket to face McDavid and Draisaitl if they are able to secure a Game 6 victory Friday night in Nashville.