Draisaitl, Hyman lead Oilers to 6-1 rout of Kings to take 2-1 series lead

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to cause Los Angeles nightmares. As if that isn't enough, the rest of the Oilers' lineup is beginning to add to the Kings' frustrations.

McDavid and Draisaitl had three-point nights on Friday, but Zach Hyman continued his hot streak at the start of the postseason with two goals as the Oilers rode the momentum of three first-period scores to a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round NHL playoffs series.

“Anytime you get up on a ream that's defensive and doesn't give you much makes it easier on you,” said Hyman, who has a league-leading six postseason goals and seven points. “You don't have to force it in, you can play your game and they have to change and open things up. We did a good job of that.”

Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Sunday night.

Hyman, who had a hat trick in Edmonton’s 7-4 Game 1 victory on Monday, became the third player in the past 25 years to score in Edmonton’s first three postseason games when he put in a rebound 6:42 into the first.

The left wing then extended it to 5-1 six minutes into third when the Oilers had a two-man advantage.

Draisaitl also had two goals along with an assist. He became the fastest player in NHL history to reach 20 career road playoff goals on a wrist shot from a tight angle just inside the left faceoff circle with 4:24 remaining in the first to make it 2-0. Draisaitl reached the milestone in 26 games, three quicker than Kevin Stevens and Bernie Nicholls.

Draisaitl also had a power-play goal midway through the third.

“I think our guys were disciplined on entering into the offensive zone. We had a plan and executed it. It wasn't just one or two guys, it was five guys who were committed and connected,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said.

McDavid got his first goal of the postseason late in the first period on the power play to give the Oilers a 3-0 advantage. With two assists, he became the first player since Wayne Gretzky in 1987 to have at least eight assists in the first three games. Gretzky had nine in 1987 and eight in 1981.

It was one of three power-play goals for Edmonton, which is 7 for 15 in the series.

“I thought we did a lot of good things. Special teams were great, Stuart (Skinner) was a rock back there. A lot of positives but it just counts as one win,” McDavid said.

Evander Kane added a goal and an assist. He also picked up a rare postseason Gordie Howe hat trick with a 10-minute misconduct penalty in the third period when the game got chippy.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added three assists and Skinner stopped 27 shots as the Oilers posted a Game 3 rout on the Kings’ home ice for the second time in three years.

Drew Doughty had the Kings’ lone goal early in the second period and Cam Talbot made 35 saves.

Doughty's goal, his second of the postseason, got the Kings to 3-1 at 5:32 of the second, but Kane returned momentum back to the Oilers two minutes later with a tip-in of Cody Ceci's shot from the point.

"I mean, we got better. Second period, we had that goal, but they scored right after," forward Kevin Fiala said. "We have to look at some things, we have to get better, and we will. So we have to get second game and that’s it.”

Kings interim coach Jim Hiller pointed to his team's lack of forechecking early as a reason why they fell behind early.

“Their power play scored, ours didn't. It's 2-1 and let's get ready for the next one,” he said.

Kings captain Anze Kopitar played in his 95th career playoff game, passing Luc Robitaille for most in franchise history.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Andreas Englund, left, and Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane fight during the third period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman, center, celebrates his goal with center Connor McDavid, left, and center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins during the third period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, right, celebrates his goal as center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skates behind during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane, right, celebrates his goal as Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, left, and center Anze Kopitar look on during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, left, scores on Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, right, celebrates his goal with center Anze Kopitar, center, as Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, second from right, looks on during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, right, celebrates his goal with left wing Zach Hyman, second from right, as Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, center, kneels in goal while defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, left, and center Blake Lizotte watch during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak, left, reaches for the puck along with Los Angeles Kings right wing Viktor Arvidsson during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Vincent Desharnais, right, passes the puck while under pressure from Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson aduring Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman, left, celebrates his goal as center Connor McDavid follows during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, center, is scored on by Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman, right, as defenseman Mikey Anderson defends during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, right, deflects a shot by Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman before Hyman scored on the rebound during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

NEW YORK (AP) — Vincent Trocheck couldn't describe the feeling when he finally scored in the second overtime to give the New York Rangers another big win.

Trocheck scored a power-play goal off a rebound at 7:24 of the second extra period and the Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series.

“I don't know. I'll watch it and let you know tomorrow,” Trocheck said. “Typically when those games go into overtime, double overtime, any team could win those games.”

Alexis Lafreniere scored twice, Chris Kreider also had a power-play goal and Artemi Panarin added three assists for the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin stopped a season-high 54 shots.

“Igor played an Igor-esque type game. He was outstanding, kept us in the game,” Trocheck said. “It's tough to beat our team when he's making saves like he was tonight.”

The Rangers won their sixth straight in the playoffs, and eighth straight dating to the regular season. New York got its first overtime playoff win since Game 7 of the first round in 2022 against Pittsburgh.

Jake Guentzel scored twice, Dmitry Orlov also scored and Sebastian Aho had three assists for the Hurricanes, who have lost three of their last four — including two in double overtime. Frederik Andersen finished with 35 saves.

“It was a hard fought game,” Carolina's Jordan Staal said. “This one is going to sting but we’ve got to find a way to get it done at home and move on from there.”

The series shifts to Raleigh, North Carolina, for the next two games, with Game 3 on Thursday night.

The Rangers were 2 for 7 on the power play, scoring twice with the advantage for the second straight game against the league's top penalty-killing team. After finishing third on the power play, New York is converting at 40% (10 for 25) in the playoffs, including 4 for 9 in this series.

“We're confident for sure,” Trocheck said. “We do expect to score. Obviously it's not going to happen every single time. We feel as a unit the team relies on us to score on the power play, especially so far in this playoffs. Special teams has been so big.”

The Rangers led the league with 28 comeback wins and got their third of the playoffs — first when trailing in the third period.

“As the game went on I thought we stayed with it, maybe even got better through the overtimes," Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. "It was a roller coaster a little bit, so for the guys to stay in there, locked in and focused like that, it was a pretty big effort.”

Shesterkin made a kick save on Martin Necas 1 1/2 minutes into the second overtime and a pad save on Staal in close about 30 seconds later. At the other end, Andersen made a stellar save on a shot by Panarin.

The Hurricanes, who finished 0 for 5 on the power play, got an advantage when Panarin was called for hooking at 3:28. They managed just one shot.

The Rangers then got their seventh power play of the night and Mika Zibanejad sent a shot in front from the left side boards. It bounced off Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns and Trocheck knocked in the rebound to extend his goal-scoring streak to five games and end the NHL's longest playoff game of the postseason.

Kreider scored his 43rd career postseason goal — most in franchise history — and 70th point — third-most behind Brian Leetch (89) and Mark Messier (80).

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.ap)news.com/hub/NHL

New York Rangers left wings Chris Kreider (20) and defenseman Adam Fox (23) react to center Vincent Trocheck's (16) game-winning goal in the second overtime in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in New York. The Rangers won 4-3. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

New York Rangers fans cheer during the second period in Game 2 of the team's NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

New York Rangers center Filip Chytil (72) collides with Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in New York. At left is Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Carolina Hurricanes centers Jake Guentzel (59) and Sebastian Aho (20) celebrate Guentzel's goal during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the New York Rangers, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) trips New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) watches the puck during the second period in Game 2 of the team's NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko (24), left wing Will Cuylle (50) and Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (82) fight for the puck during the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei (76) fight for the puck during the third period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Trocheck's power-play goal lifts Rangers to 4-3 win over Hurricanes in 2OT for 2-0 series lead

Trocheck's power-play goal lifts Rangers to 4-3 win over Hurricanes in 2OT for 2-0 series lead