Oilers force Game 7 after late goal to beat Kings

May 13 2022, 5:05 am

The Edmonton Oilers haven’t made it look easy, but they’re still alive.

Although the Los Angeles Kings tied the game 2-2 at the beginning of the third period, Tyson Barrie’s snipe with five minutes to go propelled the Oilers to a 4-2 Game 6 win.

Connor McDavid scored the opening goal just over a minute into the game.

That was a needed change of pace for the Oilers, who started Games 4 and 5 incredibly flat.

Evander Kane put the Oilers up 2-0 in the second period after tipping a Brett Kulak shot past Jonathan Quick.

However, a late second-period power play marker by Sean Durzi and an early third-period goal from Carl Grundstrom tied the game 2-2.

Thankfully for the Oilers, Barrie’s snapped his 19-game playoff goalless drought with one of the biggest goals of his career.

Kane added the empty netter, giving him seven goals so far this postseason. That ties him with Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild) and Jake Guentzel (Pittsburgh Penguins) for the NHL playoff lead.

McDavid had two assists to go along with his first period tally. He’s now the leader in playoff scoring with 12 points in six games.

Aside from Quick’s shutout in Game 4, McDavid has registered at least two points in every other game this series.

Despite his brilliance, the hero of the night was the 30-year-old Barrie. He talked to reporters after the final buzzer about playing Game 7 on home ice.

“I can’t wait,” Barrie said. “[The fans] been amazing all year, all playoffs.

“You’ve seen the crowds and what they’ve been up to in there. It’s gonna be bonkers…it’s gonna be awesome.

“We wanna be at home for this one. We want that rink rocking like it will be.”

Barrie and the rest of the Oilers’ defence had to step up in the absence of their top defenceman, Darnell Nurse, who was suspended for this game after headbutting Kings centre Philip Danault in Game 5.

One of the guys who stepped up was Brett Kulak.

The Edmonton native was second among Oilers defencemen with 21:19 in ice time. He also led all Oilers defencemen with three hits on the night.

Here’s what Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft had to say about the play of his defencemen in Nurse’s absence.

“I saw a group of players willing to sacrifice for each other. I saw a young man [Philip Broberg] get his feet in a Game 6 in the National Hockey League playoffs. I saw Kris Russell sacrificing his body at every turn. 

“I was proud of that group today.”

Game 7 will occur at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Saturday night.

This will be the first Game 7 for the Oilers since they lost 2-1 to the Anaheim Ducks in Round 2 back on May 10th, 2017.

Trevor BeggsTrevor Beggs

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