In their first game after a much-needed break, the Kings looked rejuvenated in a 4-0 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. LA’s first 20 minutes, especially at home, have followed more or less the same script since December: generate good chances, fail to convert, and head to the locker room without having scored. This familiar story unfolded again, as the Kings outshot the Oilers 10-5 but went into the first intermission scoreless.
A pair of quick goals in the second period by PL Dubois and Trevor Lewis allowed the Kings to play more comfortably, and they held this lead the rest of the way, even as several power plays for the Oilers posed a threat.
LA added two more goals from Quinton Byfield in the final frame and netminder David Rittich picked up his first shutout in a Kings uniform. Ironically, it was the first time Edmonton had been held scoreless since the New York Rangers and Jonathan Quick did it back in October.
The penalty kill for LA has been exceptional over the past month, and frustrating a team like Edmonton by making them go 0-for-4 on the power play is a great recipe for success.
Tight Record Against Edmonton: After Saturday’s win, the Kings are 4-4-2 in their last 10 regular season contests against the Oilers. LA has shown an ability to match-up well against Edmonton, something they’ll need to continue, as these two teams will meet twice more this season, and another possible playoff matchup this spring is always a possibility.
Hiller’s Debut: Jim Hiller made his NHL head coaching debut tonight, becoming the 30th bench boss in franchise history. During his introductory press conference on Thursday, Hiller discussed the importance of reviving the sense of confidence that the Kings had played with earlier this season. That swagger was apparent vs. Edmonton, as Hiller’s group excelled in numerous facets of the game. Time will tell if the former Kings forward makes any substantial lineup changes, but in the short-term, he will likely remain focused on improving his team’s mental approach.
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Getting PL Going: PL Dubois had an underwhelming first-half to his debut year in Los Angeles, that isn’t new news, as his struggles have been well-documented. However, as evidenced over Dubois’ 15:49 of ice-time against the Oilers, Hiller could be looking to deploy his big center slightly differently going forward. Dubois scored the first goal of the game on Saturday night and it appeared to give him a large boost of confidence throughout the remainder of the contest. Once again, confidence is a huge part of Hiller’s message and approach right now.
Hitting the Road: LA now heads out on the road for the next four games, beginning Tuesday night in Buffalo. Hiller will undoubtedly be looking for his team to return to the level of success they had away from SoCal earlier this season. Additionally, keep an eye out for Viktor Arvidsson, as he recently shed his non-contact jersey and could potentially make his long-awaited season debut on this upcoming trip. In his time thus far with LA, the 30-year old winger has proven to be an integral part of the lineup when healthy, especially on the power play.
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You could not ask for any better response from the players as they come off of a long layoff, need to adjust to a new coach and message, and playing an Edmonton team that has been the hottest in the NHL.
Good review, Ryan!