Who doesn’t love low-scoring affairs?

On Monday evening, the <a href="http://oilersnation.com/2025/01/13/oilers-game-notes-43-0-potential-playoff-preview-with-the-kings/">Edmonton Oilers hosted the Los Angeles Kings</a> for the first time this season, looking to avenge their 4-3 loss in the first game after the Christmas break. Thankfully, the Oilers scored the only goal in this game, winning it 1-0 to take a four-point lead <a href="http://oilersnation.com/2025/01/13/gdb-43-0-a-king-sized-battle-edmonton-oilers-los-angeles-kings-730pm-mt-snw/">over the Kings</a> in the standings.
The birthday boy opened with less than 90 seconds left in the second period as Leon Draisaitl did terrific work on the puck. Draisaitl found Darnell Nurse in the slot, with his shot rebounded to Connor McDavid who was unmarked on the side of the net.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CONNOR MCDAVID 🎂 <a href="https://t.co/bd4rG4iHMe">pic.twitter.com/bd4rG4iHMe</a>
&mdash; Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1879018721189962099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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That’s it, that’s all the scoring that was in the game. The Oilers had a few chances on the empty net, with McDavid scoring an outdoor rink goal by nailing the post, but the birthday boy’s goal late in the second held up as the winner. Not a bad gift at all.
<h2>Takeaways…</h2>
There are low-scoring games, and then there’s whatever this was. This reminded me of a game between the two teams last season, where the Kings shut down the Oilers and won 4-0. Thankfully, it was the Oilers coming away with this one.
The Kings have a much better lineup than the team the Oilers faced last postseason. Darcy Kuemper has been fantastic for the Kings this season, rocking a .921 save percentage and a 2.11 goals against average heading into this game. Moreover, he was 12-2-5 but suffered his third regulation loss.
Funnily enough, this was the Kings&#8217; third loss in regulation in one-goal games this season. In fact, it’s their second in as many games, as they lost another low-scoring game against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Speaking of good netminder performances, Stuart Skinner had a good game between the pipes, saving all 31 shots he faced for a perfect save percentage. This is technically his second shutout of the season, with his first coming against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first matchup, but he also saved all shots he faced against the Bruins last Tuesday. Skinner wasn’t given a shutout because he left the game briefly, but it’s basically a shutout. Aside from his previous start against the Penguins (where he didn’t get a shutout), he’s been terrific lately.
With the win, the Oilers moved to 27-13-3 with 57 points, four behind the Vegas Golden Knights and four ahead of the Los Angeles Kings. It’s worth noting that the Kings have two fewer games played with two more games on this road trip to go.
The Oilers return to the road on Wednesday, heading to Minnesota to face the banged-up Wild. They’ll then face the Colorado Avalanche on the second night of a back-to-back, before a Saturday night showdown against the drama-riddled Vancouver Canucks. That’s games in four different time zones in less than two weeks.
If you enjoy my content, you follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.
<h2>ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365</h2>
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Who doesn’t love low-scoring affairs?



On Monday evening, the <a href="http://oilersnation.com/2025/01/13/oilers-game-notes-43-0-potential-playoff-preview-with-the-kings/">Edmonton Oilers hosted the Los Angeles Kings</a> for the first time this season, looking to avenge their 4-3 loss in the first game after the Christmas break. Thankfully, the Oilers scored the only goal in this game, winning it 1-0 to take a four-point lead <a href="http://oilersnation.com/2025/01/13/gdb-43-0-a-king-sized-battle-edmonton-oilers-los-angeles-kings-730pm-mt-snw/">over the Kings</a> in the standings.

The birthday boy opened with less than 90 seconds left in the second period as Leon Draisaitl did terrific work on the puck. Draisaitl found Darnell Nurse in the slot, with his shot rebounded to Connor McDavid who was unmarked on the side of the net.
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https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1879018721189962099

That’s it, that’s all the scoring that was in the game. The Oilers had a few chances on the empty net, with McDavid scoring an outdoor rink goal by nailing the post, but the birthday boy’s goal late in the second held up as the winner. Not a bad gift at all.
<h2>Takeaways…</h2>
There are low-scoring games, and then there’s whatever this was. This reminded me of a game between the two teams last season, where the Kings shut down the Oilers and won 4-0. Thankfully, it was the Oilers coming away with this one.

The Kings have a much better lineup than the team the Oilers faced last postseason. Darcy Kuemper has been fantastic for the Kings this season, rocking a .921 save percentage and a 2.11 goals against average heading into this game. Moreover, he was 12-2-5 but suffered his third regulation loss.

Funnily enough, this was the Kings' third loss in regulation in one-goal games this season. In fact, it’s their second in as many games, as they lost another low-scoring game against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

Speaking of good netminder performances, Stuart Skinner had a good game between the pipes, saving all 31 shots he faced for a perfect save percentage. This is technically his second shutout of the season, with his first coming against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first matchup, but he also saved all shots he faced against the Bruins last Tuesday. Skinner wasn’t given a shutout because he left the game briefly, but it’s basically a shutout. Aside from his previous start against the Penguins (where he didn’t get a shutout), he’s been terrific lately.

With the win, the Oilers moved to 27-13-3 with 57 points, four behind the Vegas Golden Knights and four ahead of the Los Angeles Kings. It’s worth noting that the Kings have two fewer games played with two more games on this road trip to go.

The Oilers return to the road on Wednesday, heading to Minnesota to face the banged-up Wild. They’ll then face the Colorado Avalanche on the second night of a back-to-back, before a Saturday night showdown against the drama-riddled Vancouver Canucks. That’s games in four different time zones in less than two weeks.

If you enjoy my content, you follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.
<h2>ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365</h2>
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