Artemi Panarin scores, LA Kings shut down Oilers 1-0 to boost their playoff chances

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anton Forsberg made 27 saves in his third shutout of the season, and the Los Angeles Kings greatly bolstered their playoff chances with a 1-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

Artemi Panarin scored on a first-period breakaway in the regular-season home finale for the Kings (34-26-19), who won their fourth straight game in the race for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Los Angeles is also just two points behind Vegas and Anaheim for third place in the Pacific Division.

Forsberg earned his 11th career shutout while LA throttled the high-powered Oilers, who have knocked the Kings out of the playoffs in each of the past four postseasons. They also shut down NHL scoring leader Connor McDavid, who was left visibly frustrated after being called for two minor penalties, including a key holding call with 5:33 to play.

Connor Ingram stopped 19 shots for the first-place Oilers, who failed to get the one point necessary to clinch a playoff spot. Edmonton still secured its seventh consecutive trip to the postseason later Saturday when Winnipeg lost to Philadelphia.

The Oilers' loss provided Vegas and Anaheim with the opportunity this weekend to leapfrog the two-time defending conference champions for the top spot in the Pacific Division. The Golden Knights face Colorado on Saturday night and the Ducks host Vancouver on Sunday.

Edmonton played without injured forward Jason Dickinson and lost forward Max Jones to an undisclosed injury during the game.

Forsberg might have unseated Darcy Kuemper as the Kings’ first-choice goalie for the postseason after yet another strong performance down the stretch combined with Kuemper’s noticeable struggles since returning from the Olympics.

The game could have been the last at home for retiring Kings captain Anze Kopitar, although the victory makes that much less likely. Fans still serenaded Kopitar with chants of “Kopi! Kopi!” after the final horn.

Kopitar took the microphone and teared up while he thanked the fans, saying: “We’re going to do our absolute best to come home for a couple more games in the playoffs, that’s for sure.”

Panarin did all of the scoring in the first period by stripping the puck from Evan Bouchard at the Kings' blue line and skating away for a top-corner score. Panarin has 26 points in 23 games since joining the Kings in a trade with the Rangers, including nine goals.

Oilers: Host Colorado on Monday.

Kings: At Seattle on Monday.

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

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid shoots during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid moves the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, left, moves the puck against Los Angeles Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Artemi Panarin, second from right, celebrates with center Anze Kopitar (11), right wing Adrian Kempe (9), and defenseman Brandt Clarke (92) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

MONTREAL (AP) — Charlie Coyle scored twice as the desperate Columbus Blue Jackets rolled to a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.

Boone Jenner, Sean Monahan and Kirill Marchenko also scored while Jet Greaves stopped 20 shots for Columbus, which is fighting to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Adam Fantilli added two assists.

The Blue Jackets sit outside the playoff picture, two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Cole Caufield — with his 51st of the season — and Josh Anderson scored for playoff-bound Montreal two nights after Caufield scored his 50th in an electric 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jakub Dobes made 28 saves.

Defenseman Noah Dobson exited in the second period after blocking a Zach Werenski slap shot with his left hand. Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov also went to the dressing room in the third when he was hit headfirst into the boards by Werenski, but he returned later in the period.

Montreal (104 points) fell from second to third in the Atlantic Division behind Tampa Bay (104 points), which holds the regulation-wins tiebreaker over the Canadiens. The Buffalo Sabres lead the division at 106 points with two regular-season games remaining for all three teams.

Blue Jackets: Host the Boston Bruins on Sunday.

Canadiens: Visit the New York Islanders on Sunday.

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

Columbus Blue Jackets' Boone Jenner (38) scores on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) during first period NHL hockey action, in Montreal on Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Columbus Blue Jackets' Cole Sillinger (4) and Montreal Canadiens' Joe Veleno (90) vie for the puck during first-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP

Columbus Blue Jackets' Jet Greaves (73) makes a save against Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) during first-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Columbus Blue Jackets' Mason Marchment (17), Danton Heinen, second from left, Erik Gudbranson (44) and Charlie Coyle (3) celebrate after a goal while Montreal Canadiens' Alex Newhook (15) looks on during first-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)