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For the third straight season, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl ensured the Los Angeles Kings didn’t make it past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Kings were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night after McDavid and Draisaitl dominated in a 4-3 Game 5 victory.
B/R Open Ice @BR_OpenIce
MCDAVID AND DRAISAITL. THAT IS ALL. pic.twitter.com/cAPTYoWUuV
After Alex Laferriere took advantage of a fortunate carom off the boards to tie the score late in the first period, Blake Lizotte put the Kings ahead in the second.
Los Angeles got to enjoy that lead for fewer than five minutes before Draisaitl took over.
Draisaitl scored twice off assists from McDavid just minutes apart, once on a power-play and another in the seconds after a man advantage expired, in order to give the Oilers back the lead.
NHL @NHL
LEON x 2‼️ #StanleyCup
The @EdmontonOilers grab the lead back with Leon Draisaitl’s second of the game! 🟠🔵
🇺🇸: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/Pp9X7OGP3W
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/sEijvXhbA1 pic.twitter.com/oISIWvlT0J
Adrian Kempe scored to bring the Kings within one with just over two minutes remaining.
Los Angeles then pulled the goaltender, but Draisaitl drew a penalty to bring things back to even strength and allow the Oilers to seal the win.
Including the series-clinching go-ahead goal, Draisaitl closed out the first round with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in five games.
Sid @NHL_Sid
Draisaitl has now been on-ice for 18 of Edmonton’s 22 goals playoff goals thus far (82%).
Chris Scheetz @ChrisScheetz
I spend most of the season listening to Draisaitl detractors. I always tell them talk to me in the playoffs. Tonight is exhibit A. #LetsGoOilers
McDavid meanwhile made history with his pair of assists, which increased his first-round point total to 12 points (one goal, 11 assists.)
NHL Public Relations @PR_NHL
Connor McDavid assisted on both of Leon Draisaitl’s goals to boost his totals in the First Round to 1-11—12 (5 GP) and joined an elite list in the process. #StanleyCup
Catch him in action on @ESPN, @Sportsnet and @TVASports. #NHLStats: https://t.co/zVtyWjUNDt pic.twitter.com/Ypj1BQrmtA
Arpon Basu @ArponBasu
That was the Oilers’ 21st goal of the series. Connor McDavid has an assist on 11 of them and has scored one of them. In five games.
Rachel Doerrie @racheldoerrie
McDavid’s ability to raise his level (somehow) in the playoffs is incredible. Same for Draisaitl. Their career points per game in the playoffs rank 3rd & 4th all-time behind Gretzky & Lemieux. Outrageous that they don’t have a Cup Final appearance. Almost impossible to fathom… https://t.co/0wYhMwhsUq
Nick @NickZararis
McDavid’s power play orchestration is truly a treat to watch. It’s so unique and puts the other team at such a disadvantage because it’s a look no other team can create
The Kings will now suffer their third straight first-round exit at the hands of the Oilers, continuing what is now almost a decade of early playoff exits.
Los Angeles has not advanced past the first round since the team won the Stanley Cup in 2014.
matt @MattsBestTweets
It’s so funny that for three years in a row the Kings have had to scrap to make the playoffs and their reward is they get to lose to Connor McDavid in round one
The Oilers will meanwhile advance to face the winner of the first-round series between the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators.
Edmonton is hoping to make a deeper run than last year, when they were ousted by the eventual champion Vegas Golden Knights in the second round.
The Canucks hold a 3-2 series advantage, and could win a ticket to face McDavid and Draisaitl if they are able to secure a Game 6 victory Friday night in Nashville.
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