Alex Iafallo scores on the power play in overtime as the Kings rally from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits to defeat the Edmonton Oilers in their playoff opener.
Center Anze Kopitar has been one of the NHL’s premier two-way forwards since he debuted with the Kings in 2006, willingly sacrificing superstar-level point totals for the satisfaction of holding opponents’ top scorers in check. At 35 he not only led the Kings in scoring for the 15th time in the last 16 seasons, he also was a strong candidate to become a three-time winner of the Selke Trophy, awarded to the league’s top defensive forward.
Kopitar tied the score during a power play with 16.7 seconds left in regulation and earned the second assist on Alex Iafallo’s winner, scored during a power play 9 minutes 19 seconds into sudden-death play. The Oilers had set an NHL record with a 32.4% power–play success rate during the season, but the Kings were fourth, at 25.3%.
Kings captain Anze Kopitar, right, speaks with teammates Mikey Anderson and Drew Doughty during Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers.Kopitar said the Kings weren’t discouraged at being down 2-0. “You’re down two and you can pretty much change the whole momentum of the game with the one shot,” he said. “Juice [Kempe] got us going and we were able to roll from there.
The Kings vowed to stay out of the penalty box, in deference to the Oilers’ record-setting power play, and they didn’t entirely succeed. Bouchard’s five-on-three goal at 12:31 of the first period gave Edmonton a 2-0 lead, less than six minutes after Draisaitl opened the scoring.The Kings also knew they’d need their young players to draw on the experience they gained in last season’s series, in which they also won Game 1.
“I think we’re more consistent this year than we were last year, not having so many ups and downs,” Kopitar said Monday morning. “There’s certainly the experience side of it too. There was a bunch of guys that this time last year hadn’t had a playoff game yet. And this time around it’s different.”
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