Oilers Bounce Back with Convincing Win Over Kings
Perfect Performance from Smith Leads Oilers to Victory
Edmonton Captures Crucial Road Victory
EDMONTON, Alberta - Mike Smith bounced back from a disappointing performance in the previous game to record a perfect 30-save night, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a critical 3-0 road victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.
The Oilers, who had lost three of their past four games, needed a win to keep pace in the Pacific Division standings. They got it thanks to a strong defensive performance and timely goals from Mattias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, and Zach Hyman.
Smith, who had allowed four goals on 27 shots in the Oilers' previous game, was sharp from the start against the Kings. He made several key saves in the first period to keep the game scoreless, and he continued to be a brick wall throughout the contest.
The Oilers' offense finally broke through midway through the second period when Ekholm scored on a power play. Bouchard doubled the lead just over two minutes later, and Hyman added an empty-net goal in the final minutes to seal the victory.
The win was a much-needed boost for the Oilers, who are now just one point behind the Kings for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. They will look to continue their winning ways on Wednesday when they host the Calgary Flames.
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