Edmonton built a decisive lead and routed the Los Angeles Kings 8-1 at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, February 26, 2026. With 1:15 remaining in the third period the scoreline had already been decided, as the Oilers outscored the Kings in every period and finished with a wide advantage in chances. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each continued prolific seasons — McDavid scoring his 35th and Draisaitl reaching 30 goals — while Edmonton’s depth contributors and a 2-for-3 power play pushed the margin. Los Angeles managed a lone goal from Warren Foegele but was otherwise overwhelmed defensively and on special teams.
Key takeaways
- Final score: Edmonton Oilers 8, Los Angeles Kings 1. The game was played at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 26, 2026.
- Shots on goal: Los Angeles 22, Edmonton 37 — Oilers outshot the Kings by 15 attempts, reflecting sustained territorial control.
- Special teams: Kings 0-for-2 on the power play; Oilers 2-for-3, including a second-period power-play goal by Zach Hyman and a first-second power-play tally by Draisaitl.
- Scoring leaders: Connor McDavid (35th goal) and Leon Draisaitl (30th goal) each recorded major contributions; Jake Walman scored twice (his 6th and 7th of the season).
- Goals by period: Edmonton opened in the first, then broke the game open across the second period with multiple goals; Los Angeles’ only goal came in the first period.
- Lineup notes: The Kings listed Darcy Kuemper in goal and the Oilers listed Forsberg as their netminder on the game sheet; LA’s forward group included Panarin, Kopitar and Byfield in the rotation.
Background
Edmonton entered the night with one of the NHL’s most dangerous offensive groups, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers have relied on top-line production plus secondary scoring from wingers and defensemen joining the rush to create high-event nights. Los Angeles, meanwhile, has been searching for more consistent defensive structure and has shuffled forward and defensive minutes to balance scoring support with coverage in its own end.
Special-teams performance has been a recurring theme for both clubs this season: Edmonton’s power play has frequently tilted close games in their favor, while LA has had stretches of misfiring man-advantage units. Both coaching staffs also monitor goaltending workloads — starting choices and in-game pulls — as the schedule accumulates through February and into March. The matchup historically rewards the team that can limit odd-man opportunities and manage high-danger chances off the rush.
Main event
The scoring opened in the first period when Ty Emberson redirected a play at 7:25, credited as Emberson’s second of the season with assists to Jack Roslovic and Matt Savoie. Less than a minute later at 8:19 Vasily Podkolzin struck for his 13th, assisted by Andrew Mangiapane and Darnell Nurse, putting Edmonton ahead early. Los Angeles replied at 12:15 of the first when Warren Foegele scored his 7th, with Joel Edmundson recorded as the primary helper.
The second period belonged to Edmonton’s relentless attack. At 2:59 Andrew Mangiapane finished his seventh of the year (assists: Zach Hyman, Mattias Ekholm) and McDavid followed with his 35th at 4:58, again set up by Hyman and Ekholm. Zach Hyman converted on the power play at 8:44 for his 24th, assisted by Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, stretching the lead and making full use of a productive night on special teams.
Edmonton continued to pile on later in the second, with Leon Draisaitl notching his 30th—on the power play—at 0:31 of the subsequent period segment, and Jake Walman added goals at 5:24 (his 6th) and 7:36 (his 7th) with assists from Matt Savoie and Draisaitl on the first and a single Draisaitl assist on the second. Across those sequences the Oilers combined steady entries with quick puck movement to open lanes and high-danger chances around the crease.
Analysis & implications
Edmonton’s performance illustrated both elite finishing from its top creators and effective depth scoring. When McDavid and Draisaitl draw opposing defenders and still find scoring lanes, secondary scorers like Walman and Podkolzin can capitalize on space and rebounds. The 2-for-3 power play efficiency compressed the game: each successful man-advantage goal widened the scoreboard and forced LA to chase, creating transition opportunities that became additional goals.
For Los Angeles the game underscored lingering defensive gaps in coverage and breakout execution. Allowing 37 shots — many from high-danger locations — shows breakdowns in gap management and contested boards. Offensively, the Kings produced fewer quality chances and failed to convert on two power-play opportunities; without special-teams production it is difficult to stem momentum during runs like Edmonton’s second-period barrage.
Coaching staff decisions now become consequential in the short term: managing minutes for overloaded defensemen, reviewing penalty-kill schemes, and possibly adjusting the goaltending plan if the issue is deemed systemic rather than the product of a hot opponent. For Edmonton, the result is a validation of their scoring depth and a confidence boost heading into the next stretch of the schedule.
Comparison & data
| Period | Kings Goals | Oilers Goals | Kings SOG | Oilers SOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | 2 | 22 | 37 |
| 2nd | 0 | 3 | ||
| 3rd | 0 | 3 |
The table shows period-by-period scoring and the game’s shot totals: Edmonton outpaced Los Angeles across all three periods and registered 37 shots to LA’s 22. Special teams swing: Kings 0/2, Oilers 2/3; converting on two of three chances substantially affected expected-goal differentials and the overall momentum of the contest.
Reactions & quotes
Official game materials and beat reporting captured the result and lineup decisions. Those items help contextualize the box score and roster deployment after the game.
Final — Edmonton Oilers 8, Los Angeles Kings 1
NHL official box score (official statistics)
Tonight’s LA Kings lineup and pairing decisions were posted by the team beat reporter ahead of puck drop.
Zach Dooley / LA Kings beat reporter (team beat reporting)
Unconfirmed
- Postgame injury updates were not yet available; any day-to-day designations or missed practices following this game remain to be confirmed by team medical reports.
- No official announcement had been made at game time regarding an immediate change to Los Angeles’ goaltending rotation; any potential roster move is unconfirmed.
Bottom line
Edmonton’s 8-1 win in Los Angeles was a complete effort: elite top-line production, timely contributions from secondary scorers, and a lethal power play closed out the game early. The result highlights the Oilers’ depth and ability to convert on limited special-teams chances while also finishing at even strength.
For the Kings, this game is a prompt for review — in coverage, defensive structure and power-play execution. Expect coaching staff to analyze breakouts, zone coverage, and personnel deployment in the coming days as the team aims to correct course ahead of their next matchup.
Sources
- LA Kings Insider — Live thread and game coverage (team/beat reporting)
- ESPN — Broadcaster and live game coverage (broadcaster)
- NHL.com — Official box score and statistics (official statistics)