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Kings score five unanswered goals to top Oilers

Dec 29, 2006 - 8:02 AM EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- Ryan Smyth provided an early spark for the Edmonton Oilers. Alexander Frolov ignited a late charge for the Los Angeles Kings.

Frolov recorded a goal and two assists as the Kings rallied from a two-goal deficit to post a 7-4 triumph over the reeling Oilers, who were seeking the 1,000th win in franchise history.

With the return of long-time leader Smyth, who missed the previous 10 games with a fractured thumb, the Oilers opened a 4-2 lead by scoring four special-team goals. Smyth contributed to the festivities with a 5-on-3 power-play tally at 3:44 of the second period.

However, Los Angeles stormed back with the next five goals to prevent Edmonton from becoming the 17th club in league annals to reach the 1,000-win plateau.

"It was unbelievable, painful to watch," Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said. "We were dangerous in both ends of the ice again tonight, and it ended up costing us. ... I thought (goaltender Dwayne Roloson) was good tonight. A 4x6 sheet of plywood wouldn't have helped us win tonight."

Frolov played a major role in the comeback, setting up defenseman Rob Blake for a power-play goal at 7:54 of the middle session to start the outburst and adding a man-advantage tally of his own less than five minutes later to knot the contest at 4-4.

Agitator Sean Avery put the Kings ahead for good late in the period before Frolov set up blue-liner Lubomir Visnovsky's tally just over seven minutes into the third for a 6-4 advantage. Alyn McCauley, who was activated from injured reserve earlier in the day, scored an empty-netter in his debut with Los Angeles to seal the victory.

"Alyn McCauley was pretty important for us tonight," Kings coach Marc Crawford said. "He took a lot of important draws, killed penalties. I think the rust on McCauley wore off as the game went on."

"Alyn McCauley fills a big hole up there that we've had all season," Blake added. "He was signed here in the summer to play in that role, and unfortunately, he's been injured. But (he's) a veteran guy that's going to play a big role for us."

Derek Armstrong registered three assists, Dustin Brown scored a goal and set up another and Mathieu Garon - who also was activated prior to the game - made 35 saves for the Kings, who have won two straight following a four-game skid.

"You need your goalie to make some saves, and in the third period, he made two or three real good saves," Crawford said. "That preserved the victory for us."

"I think we're just going to start gaining a little more of an identity, and after that, it's up to us to be consistent with it," Avery said. "We have two important games left here to finish off the year and then hopefully go into the new year on a winning streak."

Jarret Stoll had a tally and two assists for Edmonton, which entered with the league's best penalty-killing unit at 89.6 percent but yielded three goals on seven power-play opportunities by Los Angeles.

"When you give up seven goals, that's pretty embarrassing, especially at home," Stoll said.

"We want to throw that one out the door, no question," Smyth added. "We had the turkey legs and we were playing pond hockey there, going back and forth. And with the offensive power they have over there, they're going to capitalize on their chances."

Roloson surrendered six goals on 37 shots for the Oilers, who have lost six of eight.

"As a team, we have to be collectively better," Roloson said. "We're working hard, but we're just not working smart, and we have to do the little things to win hockey games. ... My main focus is to try and give our guys a chance to win a hockey game. I don't care if we win 10-9 as long as we're winning hockey games."

"Rolly was probably our best player tonight, and he let in six goals, that's how bad it was," Stoll said. "We gave up too many scoring chances, way too many. We were too casual defensively."

Fernando Pisani got the wild contest started with a shorthanded tally just 4:27 into the first period, giving the Oilers a 1-0 lead. But the Kings bounced back with a power-play goal by Brown 1:55 later, and Brian Willsie put Los Angeles ahead midway through the session by scoring from the doorstep.

Defenseman Daniel Tjarnqvist began a string of five consecutive power-play goals - and three straight by Edmonton - with 16 seconds left in the first, unleashing a one-timer from the right point that glanced off Garon's glove and trickled into the net.

"The penalties there were the story of the first half of the game, and neither team did a great job killing," Crawford said. "When that happens, you get a bit frustrated as a coach, but I think the players love it - the chance to score, the chance to show off their offensive skill. We know that the Oilers have some great, young offensive forwards. Everyone knows that their forwards are the cream of this Northwestern crop."

Smyth gave the Oilers a 3-2 edge by burying a rebound early in the second and Stoll doubled the lead with another man-advantage goal 32 seconds later with a one-timer from above the left faceoff circle that beat Garon to the glove side.

All three tallies came during a seven-minute power play given to Edmonton when Scott Thornton received an instigator minor and fighting major with 3:11 to go in the first period. The Oilers did not get penalized during the skirmish.

"Sometimes during a season, you have to fight through adversity like that," Blake said. "(Thornton) is a big part of this team, and if that's what the call was, you have to fight through that."

Blake began Los Angeles' spurt by pinching from the right point and converting a cross-ice pass from Frolov from the faceoff circle. The goal came in the superstar's 700th career game as a King.

"I'm just fortunate to be around that long of time and to be able to come back and play here," Blake said. "A couple of years ago, I don't think I would have thought that would have been possible."

After Frolov forged a 4-4 tie with 7 1/2 minutes to go in the period, a pass by Kopitar caromed off Avery's foot and into the net with 1:59 remaining, giving the Kings their first lead.

"It seemed like right after that seven-minute power play, we should have momentum, and we did," Stoll said. "But then they got it right back."