Klefbom spoils Quick’s return, Oilers take down Kings 3-2
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Oscar Klefbom has gone from a massive drought to pouring in game-winning goals.
The defenseman scored his second straight winner and added an assist as the Edmonton Oilers edged the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 on Thursday night.
Klefbom broke a 2-all tie with 2:20 remaining on his power-play drive from the point. He has scored in back-to-back games after going without a goal since March 4.
"It has been good timing for my first two goals here," said Klefbom, who has five points in his last three games. "It was a big win for us. We didn't play our best game, so it was good to come out with two points in a game like this. For me, personally, it is nice to get the goals going and it has been good timing, too."
Jesse Puljujarvi and Alex Chiasson also scored for the Oilers, who are 3-1-1 under new coach Ken Hitchcock.
"He's pushing us to be our best," said forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who had a pair of assists. "It is tough to come in a quarter of the way through the season and try to change things, but he has done a good job of reminding us the things we already know, but also pushing us and keeping us honest."
Dustin Brown and Jeff Carter had the goals for the Kings, who won their previous two games.
Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick made his first start since Oct. 23. He missed 15 games due to surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.
"I've seen Jonathan Quick around a lot and I know he's one of the best in the league," said Kings coach Willie Desjardins, who took over after Quick's injury. "He showed that tonight. He played well, not just in the net, but handling the puck. He was good and it was good to have him back there. It's too bad that for the game back, we couldn't get a win for him."
Edmonton started the scoring 1:21 into the first period as Puljujarvi poked in the rebound of Drake Caggiula's shot past Quick. The call withstood a coach's replay challenge for goaltender interference.
The Oilers added to their lead midway through the period on the power play when Chiasson, who came to the team on a training camp tryout, scored his 11th of the season on a rebound from his knees.
Los Angeles got one back with six minutes left in the first when Brown beat goalie Mikko Koskinen on a one-timer from the top of the circle for his eighth goal.
The Kings tied it on a two-man advantage with 31 seconds left in the first on a goal by Carter, their first power-play goal on the road this season.
It looked as though Los Angeles grabbed the lead early in the third on a goal by Tyler Toffoli, but the play was deemed offside following a coach's challenge.
NOTES: It was the second of four meetings between the teams this season. The Kings won the first one 5-2 four days ago. ... Los Angeles assigned goalie Peter Budaj to Ontario of the American Hockey League.
UP NEXT
Kings: Conclude a three-game Western Canada road trip Friday in Calgary.
Oilers: Close out a three-game homestand Saturday against Vegas.
