McDavid scores lone goal, Oilers blank Kings

EDMONTON -- Connor McDavid scored the only goal on his 28th birthday, and Stuart Skinner made 30 saves for the Edmonton Oilers in a 1-0 win against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place on Monday.

It was McDavid’s 72nd game-winning goal, tying Glenn Anderson for the most in franchise history.

“It's always that way with L.A., always that kind of grinding, low-scoring, low-event hockey,” McDavid said. “We know how to play these games with them.

“I thought we maybe beat them at their own game today. Just playing patient, finding a way to get one, and holding on for a win.”

Skinner's shutout was his second of the season. He also stopped all 26 shots he faced in a 4-0 win against the Boston Bruins on Jan. 7, but he was not credited with a shutout in that game because he missed 5:25 after being taken off the ice by a concussion spotter.

“It was very much a playoff game where two teams just went at it and played really solid,” Skinner said. “Darcy (Kuemper) was fantastic tonight and made some incredible saves, especially in the third where we could have gotten a few and he just took it away.

“They’re a heck of a team. They know how to play us as well as we know how to play them. That is what makes it so much fun and so exciting. I’m really happy that we were able to get this win, especially after they beat us last game (4-3 in overtime in Los Angeles on Dec. 28)."

Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse had an assist for the Oilers (27-13-3), who have won six of seven.

"Tough game. They’re a really good team,” Edmonton forward Zach Hyman said. “We’ve played them I don’t know how many times in the past three years, probably the most out of any team. There was pretty much no space out there.

“They’re the best defensive team in the League if I’m not mistaken. They don’t give up much.”

Kuemper made 29 saves for the Kings (24-12-5), who have lost two straight after winning their previous five.

Los Angeles had a chance to take the early lead at 4:52 of the first period. Anze Kopitar skated in on a 2-on-1 and sent a pass across to Adrian Kempe, whose one-timer from the right circle was stopped by the outstretched glove of Skinner before deflecting up and landing on top of the net.

“It was obviously a tight game and tight checking. Any chance was going to win it, and it turned out that way,” Kopitar said. “I thought we had a good start and then maybe didn’t maintain that tempo throughout the whole game, but the first period was good. But we couldn’t get anything on the board, so we’ve got to make sure that we give Darcy some run support."

McDavid put the Oilers ahead 1-0 during a 4-on-4 at 18:37 of the second period. Draisaitl outmuscled Kings forward Trevor Moore for a loose puck, skated around the net, and sent a pass out to Nurse for a one-timer in the high slot. Although Kuemper made the initial save, the rebound went right to McDavid, who buried the puck from below the right circle.

“It was just a loose puck, and I thought I had a jump on the race and came up with it," Draisaitl said. "[Nurse] took a great route, it was a really smart play by him. It was a good bounce on [McDavid's] stick, of course.

“You always have to be patient when you play them. They’re a good team, they defend well. They’re very patient, so you have to be very patient as well. We did a good job after the first.”

Kings forward Alex Laferriere, who was assessed a penalty for holding which offset the roughing minor on Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen, didn’t play another shift the rest of the game.

“One really poor penalty by Laferriere,” Kings coach Jim Hiller said. “It was a really bad penalty even though it got evened up.

“That was probably the moment in the game I liked the least. But other than that, we played hard.”

NOTES: Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson played 19:57 in his return after missing the previous two games with an upper-body injury. ... Oilers forward Mattias Janmark played in his 600th NHL game ... Draisaitl extended his point streak to three games (two goals, three assists).