National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Los Angeles 4, Edmonton 1
When: 9:30 PM ET, Friday, March 30, 2012
Where: Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Referees: Steve Kozari, Brian Pochmara
Linesmen: Pierre Champoux, Mark Wheler
Attendance: 16839


KINGS 4, OILERS 1: Anze Kopitar collected a goal and an assist and Mike Richards netted a shorthanded tally as visiting Los Angeles jumped into first place in the Pacific Division.

Defensemen Drew Doughty and Alec Martinez also scored and Jonathan Quick turned aside 13 shots for the Kings, who have won eight of their last 10. Los Angeles moved past Dallas, which dropped a 5-2 decision to Vancouver on Friday.

After the teams split the first two goals, Richards put Los Angeles back on top midway through the first period. Richards took advantage of an Edmonton miscue at the blue line, skated in on a breakaway and backhanded the puck past Nikolai Khabibulin for his 17th goal.

Doughty doubled the advantage 6:44 into the second period after his blast from the point beat a screened Khabibulin for his 10th goal.

Martinez provided insurance by cleaning up a rebound at 7:45 of the third period.

Jordan Eberle scored a power-play goal for the Oilers, who would have allowed Chicago to clinch its fourth straight postseason berth had they won on Friday.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Los Angeles center Jeff Carter sat out with an ankle injury. ... Khabibulin finished with 28 saves. ... Edmonton defenseman Jeff Petry left the game in the second period after he was hit in the face with a puck on a clearing attempt. He did not return. ... Oilers defenseman Ladislav Smid suffered a neck injury and did not return.

Top Game Performances
 
Los Angeles   Edmonton
Anze Kopitar 2 Points Jordan Eberle 1
Anze Kopitar 1 Goals Jordan Eberle 1
Matt Greene 2 Assists Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 1
Drew Doughty 1 Power Play Goals Jordan Eberle 1
Mike Richards 1 Short Handed Goals N/A
Jonathan Quick .929 Save Percentage Nikolai Khabibulin .875
Jonathan Quick 13 Saves Nikolai Khabibulin 28
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Los Angeles 32 4 1-6 2-3 10 30
Edmonton 14 1 1-3 5-6 26 17
Upcoming Games
  • Edmonton will play their next game on the road against Anaheim. The Oilers have a W/L % of .355 after a win and .426 after a loss.
  • Los Angeles will play their next game on the road against Minnesota. The Kings have a W/L % of .447 after a win and .550 after a loss.