GAME TIME
The Oilers arrive in Los Angeles tonight trying to halt a four‑game slide, a skid punctuated by last night’s collapse in Anaheim. Edmonton’s profile remains the same: elite power‑play production and enough top‑end talent to tilt a game, but their recent inconsistency and shaky goaltending have left them vulnerable. They enter Crypto.com Arena at **28‑23‑8**, still in the Pacific mix but in need of a stabilizing performance. [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nhl/preview/_/gameId/401803280)
Los Angeles, at **23‑20‑14**, is also playing with urgency. The Kings are coming off one of their worst losses of the season and sit outside the playoff picture, three points back of Seattle. Their formula is familiar: structured defensive layers, Kopitar’s two‑way gravity, and the expectation that if they reach three goals, they usually get a result — they’re **18‑2‑7** when they hit that mark. Tonight is their first home meeting with Edmonton since last year’s playoff clash, adding a little extra edge. [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nhl/preview/_/gameId/401803280) [LA Kings Insider](https://lakingsinsider.com/2026/02/26/2-26-preview-moving-on-from-an-unacceptable-loss-morning-skate-observations-power-play-improvements-national-broadcast/)
The matchup leans on contrasts: Edmonton’s need for cleaner puck management and steadier goaltending versus L.A.’s push to reassert defensive identity after a rough night. Both teams are desperate, both are flawed, and both know this could be a hinge game in the Pacific standings. With puck drop at **7:30 PM Pacific**, the stakes are sharper than the calendar suggests — two teams trying to stop the bleeding before the standings harden. [LA Kings Insider](https://lakingsinsider.com/2026/02/26/2-26-preview-moving-on-from-an-unacceptable-loss-morning-skate-observations-power-play-improvements-national-broadcast/)
Goaltenders
Ingram, Oilers | Kuemper started/Forsberg, Kings
SCORING
1st Period
Ty Emberson (2) EDM J. Roslovic (10), M. Savoie (12)
Vasily Podkolzin (13) EDM A. Mangiapane (7), D. Nurse (13)
Warren Foegele (7) LAK J. Edmundson (15)
Andrew Mangiapane (7) EDM Z. Hyman (15), M. Ekholm (24)
Connor McDavid (35) EDM Z. Hyman (16)
Zach Hyman (24) PPG EDM L. Draisaitl (52), E. Bouchard (50)
Leon Draisaitl (30) PPG EDM C. McDavid (65)
Jake Walman (6) EDM M. Savoie (13)
SCORE 8-1 Oilers FINAL
2025-26
KINGS AT OILERS APR 14, 2024 CONDENSED GAME
