Kempe scores lone shootout goal to lift Kings past Oilers, 4-3

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Adrian Kempe scored the lone goal in a shootout and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on Saturday night in their first meeting since the first-round of the playoffs.

Edmonton has eliminated Los Angeles in the opening round of the playoff the last four seasons.

Connor McDavid scored his 30th goal of the season to tie it at 3 for Edmonton on a power play with 9:20 to go. He extended his points streak to a career-high 18 games.

Corey Perry, Andre Lee and Alex Laferriere scored in regulation, and Anton Forsberg made 21 saves to help Los Angeles rebound from a 5-1 loss in Winnipeg on Friday night. The 40-year-old Perry spent the previous two seasons with Edmonton.

Leon Draisaitl scored twice for Edmonton, and Connor Ingram stopped 27 shots. McDavid, Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins failed on their shootout attempts for the Oilers.

Kings: Host Dallas on Monday night.

Oilers: At Chicago on Monday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty (8) checks Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) into the net during an overtime of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Kings goalie Anton Forsberg (31) makes the save on Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) during an overtime of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Kings players celebrate the win over the Edmonton Oilers during a shoot-out of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Kings' Adrian Kempe (9) scores on Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram (39) during a shootout of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) celebrates after a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during first-period NHL hockey game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl celebrates a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of an NHL game, in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Kings players celebrate a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the second period of an NHL game, in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Kings goalie Anton Forsberg (31) makes a save on Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) as Alex Turcotte (15) defends during the second period of an NHL game, in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Los Angeles Kings players celebrate after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during first-period NHL hockey game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman has agreed to a $175 million, five-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, according to two people familiar with the deal.

The people spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday night on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical. The contract includes a no-trade provision allowing Bregman to block deals without his consent.

Bregman, who turns 32 in March, was back on the market for a second straight offseason. He also was pursued by the Cubs before he signed a $120 million, three-year contract with Boston last February, with opt-outs after each of the first two seasons.

He decided to test free agency again after hitting .273 for the Red Sox with 18 homers and 62 RBIs in 114 games, his fewest since 2021. Bregman missed all of June with a quadriceps injury.

He earned $40 million in his one season with Boston, of which he received $15 million last year. The Red Sox owe him $5 million in January 2028 and $2 million each June from 2035-44.

Bregman played his first nine seasons with the Houston Astros, winning World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 — although the first of those yielded a sign-stealing scandal that earned Bregman and his teammates plenty of scorn.

When the Gold Glove winner joined the Red Sox, they already had All-Star Rafael Devers at third base. Boston asked Devers to move to DH, and the team’s relationship with the slugger soured to the point that Devers was traded to San Francisco in June.

Boston ended up leading the major leagues in errors, but the Red Sox did return to the postseason for the first time in four years. Bregman’s OPS of .822 was his best since 2019, and he earned All-Star honors for a third time.

Chicago finished second in the NL Central last year with a 92-70 record. The Cubs reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020 before getting eliminated by Milwaukee in a five-game Division Series.

The Cubs used Matt Shaw at third base last season, and the rookie played stellar defense while batting .226 with 13 homers, 44 RBIs and 17 steals in 126 games. Shaw also can play second base, but Nico Hoerner is a two-time Gold Glove winner at the position.

There could be another trade on the horizon to clear up the team's infield situation, or Shaw could move into a super-utility role with Bregman’s arrival.

The addition of Bregman was the second major move by the Cubs in a matter of days. They acquired right-hander Edward Cabrera in a trade with the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.

ESPN was the first to report Bregman's agreement with the Cubs.

AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

FILE - Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman fields a groundout hit by Baltimore Orioles' Jordan Westburg during the first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, on Aug. 18, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)