Kings 2 - 4 Oilers
Final
  for this game

Oilers hurt Kings' playoff chances

Apr 8, 2015 - 5:14 AM Edmonton, AB (SportsNetwork.com) - The Edmonton Oilers played the role of spoiler by dropping the playoff-hopeful Los Angeles Kings 4-2 on Tuesday.

Edmonton was embarrassed by LA last week, losing 8-2 in extending its steak to 14 games without a regulation win against the reigning Stanley Cup champs.

The ignominious drought ended at just the wrong time for the Kings, who fell two points behind the Flames in the race for third place in the Pacific Division. The two play a critical must-win game in Calgary on Thursday.

Richard Bachman made 25 saves, Matt Fraser scored twice, and Benoit Pouliot and Tyler Pitlick also lit the lamp to help the Oilers snap a three-game skid.

"We wanted a little redemption from last week," Fraser said. "It felt good to play the spoiler."

One day after losing in a shootout to the Canucks, Kings head coach Darryl Sutter curiously sat star goaltender Jonathan Quick despite his 14-1-5 career record against the Oilers.

Martin Jones made 18 saves in relief as Los Angeles also fell three points behind the Jets for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.

"It wasn't an easy decision," Sutter said of inserting Jones. "It wasn't one that was made (Monday), it was one made a few days ago."

Drew Doughty scored on a seemingly innocuous shot from center ice with 10:22 remaining to pull the Kings within 3-2, but they never found the equalizer.

Fraser's empty-netter just before the final horn sealed the outcome.

Fraser broke a scoreless tie 2:34 into the second period by scoring off a rebound. The Oilers were whistled for a delay of game three minutes later, and shortly after the power play began, Anze Kopitar banked a shot off the back boards that an unaccounted-for Jake Muzzin snapped in.

A turnover at the midway point of the second period led to a breakaway for Pouliot, who roofed one in the left corner, and Pitlick scored 5:31 into the third off another shot that caromed hard off the boards behind the net.

Game Notes

The Kings' previous regulation loss vs. the Oilers came on Nov. 3, 2011. They had also earned at least one point (11-0-3) in 14 straight games in Edmonton ... Pitlick had not played since sustaining a spleen injury on Dec. 31 ... Kings forward Dustin Brown played in his 800th career game ... The Oilers play their home finale Thursday against the Sharks.






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