Kopitar gave Danault hero at the victory of kings over Edmonton

Los Angeles Kings hockey players have dreamed of a fight for the Stanley Cup in the North American NHL. In the first match of the opening round of the playoffs, in the home crypto.com, the arena was defeated by Edmonton, last year’s League finalists after a real drama. Captain of the king Anze Kopitar has contributed to a significant victory, and the hero of the evening became Phillip Danault with a decisive hit just 42 seconds before the end of regular work.

For kings and naphans, this is the fourth consecutive meeting in the first round of the playoffs, which is a kind of record of four wins. In the previous three attempts (2022, 2023, 2024), there were always more successful Edmonton hockey players who crossed the kings each time. But this time, the Californians, who finished the regular part of the season in the second place of the Pacific Division, for the first time in these duels the advantage of the home playground – and they also used in the opening match after the dramatic outcome.

Pasts of kings and seemingly reliable leadership

Already in the third minute, a newcomer on the team was scored by the player, Andrej Kuzmenko. Just before the end of the first third, the lead was 2-0 Quinton Byfield. In the second third, the kings were a better rival. In the middle of the period, the first attack shone: Adrian Kempe After a nice campaign with Kopitar and Kuzmenk, he scored 3: 0, and the Slovenian captain entered his first point in this year’s playoffs. When, three minutes before the end of the second third, Danault was raised to 4-0 after defending Edmonton’s defense, it seemed that the match was determined.

But Edmonton has two of the world’s best players in its ranks. Leon Draisaitl decreased only five seconds before the second break to 1: 4 and poured hope to the guests. This has flared up at the beginning of the last third when Mattias Janmark decreased to 2: 4 in 43 minutes. A key moment for home followed in the 45th minute when Jake Walman received a two -minute sentence. Kings with a player hit more quickly – he was successful Kevin Fial for 5: 2 lead. But the story has not ended here.

Corey Perry he soon lowered to 3: 5. Then the tragic hero Walman made a new mistake – with the player, he sent the plate across the fence and earned Edmonton another sentence, and the kings had a minute and a half of playing five against three. Surprisingly, they did not use it. The penalty came just two minutes before the end. Edmonton pulled the goalkeeper Stuart Skinner from the door and Zach HYMAN is after the third pass Connor McDavid reduced to 4: 5 in the match. The pressure of the guests escalated and only 36 seconds later hit McDavid himself and equalized the home fans at 5: 5.

Danault hero in the exhalations of the match

In the last minute, Edmonton even had an opportunity for a complete turnaround, but on the other hand, a new shock followed. Phillip Danault, 42 seconds before the end, triggered a shot from a distance, and the plate, even with some luck, surprised the goalkeeper Skinner and ended up in the net for the final 6: 5 and the indescribable joy in the hall. « We wanted to send a message that we were a different, better team, » they pointed out after the match, writes Athletic.

Los Angeles, who achieved a record 31 domestic ice victories in the regular part of the season, started the match firmly. Photo: Sean M. Haffey/AFP

Anze Kopitar spent just under 21 minutes (20:53) on ice, and in statistics he entered another « bodycheck » and received 48 percent of the judicial throws. The next match of the series will be on Thursday night, also in Los Angeles.

Other outcomes of NHL playoffs:

At the remaining Monday’s playoffs, Washington defeated Montreal after a 3-2 extension, and scored a decisive goal Alexander Oveckin – It was his first goal in his career extensions. Winnipeg chased St. Louis and led in the series with 2: 0. Dallas, however, defeated Colorado after 4: 3 and settled the score to 1: 1.