The Kings’ slow start to the 2026-27 season got another jolt Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, where Edmonton left with a 4-1 win and Los Angeles dropped to 0-3-2.
The Oilers wasted little time taking control. Midway through the first period, Connor McDavid sparked the opening goal after the Kings lost a stick in their own zone, circling with the puck before sliding it to Leon Draisaitl on his left. Draisaitl finished for his fourth goal of the season and a 1-0 Edmonton lead.
A minute later, the Oilers were back on the board and again it started with McDavid. Drew Doughty’s tripping penalty put Edmonton on the power play, and McDavid burst down the left side past Mikey Anderson before firing a shot that Darcy Kuemper kicked away. The rebound landed right on Vasily Podkolzin’s stick in the slot, and he tucked home his sixth goal of the season to make it 2-0.
Edmonton kept pressing, and Los Angeles couldn’t cash in on its best shift of the period. Instead, the Oilers turned it back the other way. Ty Emberson sent the puck high out of the zone, McDavid came off the bench, grabbed it in stride and went in alone, finishing with a backhand deke around Kuemper for his third point of the opening period and a 3-0 cushion.
After the first 20 minutes, the Kings made a change in net, replacing Kuemper with Anton Forsberg.
Los Angeles finally got something going late in the second period. Brandt Clarke picked up his first goal of the season, using his edges to settle the puck at the top of the offensive zone before getting a shot through from the center point. The puck deflected off Edmonton goalie Devon Levi’s arm and in, trimming the deficit to 3-1.
But that was as close as the Kings would get. Edmonton added an empty-net goal with a little more than two minutes left to lock up the 4-1 final.
Hear from Clarke, forward Trevor Moore and Head Coach Peter Laviolette after tonight’s game.
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Former NHL goalie Carter Hutton added to that uneasiness during a podcast discussion, making it clear he sees the Kings goaltending as a real concern right now. For a club still searching for its first win under Laviolette, the next question is whether the staff keeps riding Kuemper through the turbulence or starts looking for another answer in net. [Read more 🡒]
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One name hovering over the conversation is Winnipegs Connor Hellebuyck, a high-end target whose availability has become complicated enough to keep talks from moving into overdrive. Trade discussions are reportedly still active, but the Kings are moving carefully for now, knowing any major swing in goal would have to fit both the present urgency and the long-term cost of doing business. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Keep Finding New Ways To Lose Under Peter Laviolette
The early-season frustration keeps growing for the Kings, who were beaten 4-1 by the Oilers at Crypto.com Arena and are still searching for their first win. Los Angeles had plenty of the puck and plenty of looks, but once again the finish was missing, and a game that could have been different slipped away before the home crowd had much to celebrate.
Edmonton made the most of its chances, with Connor McDavid driving the night from the start and the Kings failing to cash in on their own opportunities. For a team trying to settle in under Peter Laviolette, the pattern is becoming familiar: good enough to create pressure, not good enough to turn it into points, and now five straight losses to open the season have left little margin for comfort. [Read more 🡒]