Mon Apr 28 01:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Oilers’ Self-Inflicted Wounds Fuel Kings’ 2-0 Series Lead

**Edmonton, AB** – The Edmonton Oilers find themselves in a deep hole after dropping the first two games of their Western Conference Quarterfinal series against the Los Angeles Kings. The scoreline – 6-2 and 6-5 losses – doesn’t fully reflect the Oilers’ struggles, according to Head Coach Jay Woodcroft. He pinpointed self-inflicted errors, rather than brilliant Kings’ plays, as the primary reason for their deficit.

“The last two games, we’ve allowed five goals on special teams,” Woodcroft stated post-Game 2. “The other goals are just mistakes, gift-wrapping opportunities for the Kings. It’s not that L.A. is making incredible plays; it’s our own gaffes costing us.”

Concerns about Edmonton’s defense, particularly their goaltending (which ranked in the bottom 10 in save percentage during the regular season) and the absence of injured defenseman Mattias Ekholm, have been amplified by the series’ opening. Game 2 saw goaltender Stuart Skinner pulled after allowing five goals, with replacement Calvin Pickard conceding another shortly after. While Woodcroft defended Skinner, stating that the goals weren’t due to poor goaltending but rather defensive breakdowns, he admitted the high-quality chances allowed have made it difficult for his goalies.

The Kings’ power play has also proven devastating, scoring three goals on the advantage in Game 2 alone. Edmonton’s penalty kill, which boasted a league-best 94.3% success rate last season, has surrendered five power-play goals in just ten opportunities this series.

The Oilers, Western Conference champions last season, now face a daunting task. They’ve conceded 20 goals in their last four games against the Kings, including two shutout losses in the regular season. While they’ve historically overcome a 1-1 split in previous first-round matchups against LA, this time the Kings hold a commanding 2-0 lead heading back to Edmonton for Game 3 on Friday. A series win would send the Kings to the second round for the first time since their 2014 Stanley Cup victory. The Oilers must drastically improve their defensive play and penalty kill to avoid a quick exit from the playoffs.

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