Kane scores hat trick to help Oilers take commanding win over Kings, lead in series
CBC
Evander Kane scored a hat trick and the visiting Edmonton Oilers continued their offensive domination with a decisive 8-2 win over the L.A. Kings in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Friday.
Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had two goals and an assist while Leon Draisaitl contributed a goal and an assist. Cody Ceci contributed three assists and Connor McDavid, and Evan Bouchard each had two for Edmonton, which improved to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
The Kings replied with a goal and an assist from Anze Kopitar, and a goal from Philip Danault.
The Oilers chased L.A. netminder Jonathan Quick midway through the second period after he allowed four goals on 19 shots. Cal Petersen stopped 16 of 20 in relief.
The series continues with Game 4 in Edmonton on Sunday before returning to Edmonton for Game 5 on Tuesday.
WATCH l Kane nets fifth career hat trick as Oilers rout Kings to take series lead:
Kane completed the fifth hat trick of his career with just 19.7 seconds left on the clock, sending a wrist shot past Petersen to seal the score at 8-2.
Nugent-Hopkins put away the final two goals of the game 81 seconds apart late in the third period.
His first came 14:19 into the frame when he collected a puck from Hyman and blasted a snap shot past Petersen from the hash marks, shattering his stick in the process.
He tipped in his second of the night at the 15:40 mark.
The Kings finally got their first power-play goal of the series 17:29 into the second after Derek Ryan was called for interference on Blake Lizotte.
Seconds into the man advantage, Kempe fired a slapshot at Smith. The goalie stopped the initial blast but Danault was there to collect the rebound and backhand it into the Edmonton net to make it 5-2.
L.A.'s power play has struggled through the series, going 1 for 12 across three games, and 1 for 4 on Friday.
The Oilers were 1 for 3 with the man advantage in Game 3 and improved to 5 for 11 in the series.