Relentless Oilers overrun Kings' sat-back defense to level series, 2-2

EDMONTON, Alb. – How in the world is this series tied?

Four games where the Los Angeles Kings have held the lead into the third period. Three games where the Edmonton Oilers have tied it up in the third period. Two games in a row where the Oilers netted the game-winning goal on the power play.

Series all square headed back to Los Angeles.

Evan Bouchard tallied his second straight two-goal game, including the game-tying goal with 29 seconds remaining, and Leon Draisaitl nailed the overtime winner to take Game 4, 4-3, at Rogers Place on Sunday.

Game 5 is Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena.

“We’ve got a strong belief in here,” Oilers forward Connor McDavid said. “Strong belief that we’re never out. People doubting us, putting ourselves in bad spots, but we’re working, finding ways to win games. Not the recipe to success, but proud of everyone how we found a way tonight.”

Edmonton’s win was the first multi-goal comeback victory by any team so far in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and it came on Draisaitl’s first career playoff overtime marker.

“I think that’s our identity in here,” Draisaitl said. “We built that years ago. That’s a mentality that we have that we’re never going to quit no matter what. Obviously, we’ve shown that in this series so far. Maybe a little too much. We got to find a way to play with a lead.”

Full marks to the Oilers for leaning on their mentality of relentlessness, but each comeback has not been equal.

In Game 1, it was a turbo performance by human cheat code Connor McDavid. In Game 3, it was a wild back-and-forth that neither team got a handle on until the Kings gave the Oilers a power play immediately after the game-tying goal for a failed coach’s challenge.

Game 4 was different, where the Kings had been fairly dominant through two periods with a 3-1 lead and a 28-13 shot advantage.

However, through the third period and overtime, Los Angeles attempted to sit back with five guys behind the puck and take Edmonton’s rolling punches, until the Oilers eventually rolled over the Kings to the win. Edmonton outshot LA, 33-13, over the third period and overtime, including 80% of the five-on-five expected goals in overtime.

The Kings leaned on their top three lines and top two defensive pairs down the stretch to an almost ridiculous degree. LA’s top four defensemen all played over 30 minutes with Brandt Clarke playing just under 12 minutes and Jacob Moverare playing just over a paltry two minutes.

The Kings fourth line was barely on the ice and even less frequently on the ice together. Trevor Lewis played just over five minutes, Jeff Mallot played just over two minutes and Samuel Helenius playing a scant 1:44.

“They’re relying heavily on four D and nine forwards,” McDavid said. “It’s tough. Not to say that we’re not playing big minutes too, but I thought we just wore them down. They like to absorb pressure. That can be taxing at times.”

While the Oilers were much better at spreading out the ice time to roll four lines against the Kings, McDavid is right that Edmonton relied on its top guys just as much.

All four Oilers goals were scored with McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard and Corey Perry on the ice, including four points from Draisaitl–his eighth career four-point playoff game, tied with Mario Lemieux for the fifth-most in NHL history.

“That’s what this team is. Nothing’s ever easy,” Perry said of the Oilers’ determination. “We keep battling. Keep pushing. We found a way to tie the game and found a way to end it in overtime. Big guys make big plays at right times.”

Perry in particular was in and around the crease on all four goals, including his highlight mid-air tap around Darcy Kuemper for Edmonton’s first goal of the game.

“He’s a gamer,” McDavid said of Perry. “He’s been doing it forever, just never stops. It’s just unbelievable. Impressive to see. Wins battles. Wins another battle in overtime in front. Just rangy, good hands, smart. Can’t say enough good things about him.”

It made sense for Perry to be crucial in the overtime winner, as the 2007 Stanley Cup champion has five career playoff overtime goals, the third-most in NHL history. Perry–who has played on four of the last five Stanley Cup Final runner-ups–whacked away at the puck in front before it squirted back to Draisaitl for the winner.

“He’s just elite,” Draisaitl said of Perry. “He’s nearly 40 years old, and he has an impact on every single game. He’s one of the smartest hockey players I’ve ever seen. He’s so unique in the way he thinks and plays the game.

“I honestly feel like he could play until he’s 50 just because of his brain. We’ll see if the boots keep up there,” Draisaitl joked.

For as electric as the Oilers comeback ability has been, each Edmonton player the media spoke with made it clear that they’d rather not have to do that every game. The Oilers biggest test to do so will be in Game 5 back in Los Angeles, where the Kings posted the best home record in the league in the regular season and won the first two games of this series.

There’s the old adage that a playoff series doesn’t start until the road team wins a game, and for the Oilers to win this series, they will have to win at least one game at Crypto.com Arena.

“That’s what the playoffs are all about, going and winning a big road game, coming together,” McDavid said. “That’s what special groups do… It’ll be an uphill battle, but I’ve got nothing but belief in this group.”