Phillip Danault scored 14:46 into the third period and the L.A. Kings held off the Edmonton Oilers for a 4-3 win in Game 1 of their first-round playoff matchup on Monday.
Connor McDavid and Kailier Yamamoto replied with a goal and an assist apiece, and Leon Draisaitl rounded out the scoring with a power-play tally.
L.A. goalie Jonathan Quick made 35 saves for the win and Mike Smith stopped 31-of-35 shots for Edmonton.
WATCH l Oilers fall to Kings in series opener:
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Los Angeles edges Edmonton 4-3 as Phillip Danault scores the game-winning goal with just over five minutes remaining in the third period. 1:08
The Oilers finished the regular season second in the Pacific Division with a 49-27-6 record to earn home ice advantage and fans responded by packing Rogers Place with a sold out crowd for the opening game.
Edmonton is in the playoffs for the third straight season but last year’s run was brief, with the Winnipeg Jets ousting the Oilers in the first round with a four-game sweep.
He then set Iafallo up to give L.A. a 2-0 lead 16:52 into the first. Stationed bellow the goal line, Moore sent Iafallo a behind-the-back pass and Iafallo wasted no time putting it into the Oilers’ net.
Edmonton cut the deficit before the end of the opening frame with another highlight-reel worthy goal from McDavid.
The Oilers’ captain sprinted the length of the ice, holding off several Kings defenders, and fired a snap shot past Quick to make it 2-1 with 42 seconds left in the first.
WATCH l McDavid scores impressive goal in Game 1:
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Edmonton captain Connor McDavid’s skill is on full display as he scores a goal against Los Angeles during the first period. 1:18
Chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P!” followed from the boisterous crowd. McDavid won his fourth Art Ross Trophy this season after posting a league-best 123 points.
The Oilers evened the score early in the second with a power-play marker after Iafallo was called for tripping.
Duncan Keith fired a long-range shot and Yamamoto tipped it in from the back door 2:39 into the period.
The score didn’t stay knotted at 2-2 for long. Lemieux sent a shot sailing from the top of the faceoff circle off a rush 3:50 into the second to restore the Kings’ lead.
McDavid sent a pass flying from the boards with the puck ricocheting off a broken stick in the slot before Draisaitl settled it and blasted a quick shot past Quick 9:56 into the second.
Edmonton went 2 for 4 with the man advantage on Monday and L.A was 0 for 4.
The Kings took the lead for a final time 14:46 after Danault found space between Smith and his post.
Moments earlier, the goalie tried to clear the puck from behind the net and instead put it on the stick of a L.A. player in front. Smith made a diving save but couldn’t corral the puck and seconds later a long bomb went over his shoulder.
Game 2 goes Wednesday in Edmonton. The series shifts to L.A. for Game 3 on Friday.
WATCH | Trio of Canadian teams try to end 28-year Cup drought:
The Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs are competing in the NHL playoffs this season, bringing renewed optimism one of them will finally end Canada’s 28-year Stanley Cup drought. 2:04