The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Edmonton Oilers 1-0 at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday as Anton Forsberg made 27 saves for his third shutout of the season. Artemi Panarin scored the game’s only goal, giving the Kings their fourth consecutive win and moving them closer to a playoff berth.
Forsberg was stellar in net, making key saves when it mattered most. His performance lifted his record to 4-0-0 in his past four starts with a 0.97 GAA and .963 save percentage. Forsberg’s shutout was the Kings’ second in three games and their first at home since March 11.
Artemi Panarin scored the game’s lone goal at 7:34 of the first period. The Russian star stripped Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard of the puck at the blue line and used a deke to beat Connor Ingram to the glove side. It was Panarin’s 26th point in 23 games since his trade from the New York Rangers in early February.
Cody Ceci made a crucial defensive play at 10:31 of the first when he dove to knock Curtis Lazar’s shot off the goal line after it had trickled past Forsberg. The play preserved the shutout and kept the Kings in front during a tense stretch.
The Oilers, who had the chance to clinch a playoff berth with a point, struggled to find the net. Connor Ingram made 19 saves but could not stop the Kings’ attack. Edmonton forward Max Jones left the game in the first period with an undisclosed injury, and coach Kris Knoblauch offered no update afterward.
Los Angeles remains one point ahead of the Nashville Predators for the second wild card in the Western Conference. The Kings hold a game in hand and will play their final three games on the road. The Oilers, who have lost three of four, can still clinch a playoff berth Saturday if the Winnipeg Jets lose in regulation to the Philadelphia Flyers.
“Going on this (three-game) road trip to end the season, I don’t really remember when was the last time we had a three-game winning streak, so it definitely feels good,” said Kings captain Anze Kopitar, who played his final home game before retiring at the end of the season.
The Kings will look to keep their momentum rolling as they head to St. Louis for a crucial matchup against the Blues on Monday.
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