Kings Face Oilers in Crucial Game 6 of Playoffs

EDMONTON, Canada — The Los Angeles Kings are set to face the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the NHL Playoffs First Round on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 10:00 PM ET at Rogers Place.

Edmonton leads the best-of-seven series 3-2, looking to eliminate the Kings for the fourth consecutive postseason. The Oilers have won three straight games after dropping the first two in Los Angeles. If necessary, Game 7 will be held in Los Angeles on Saturday.

“We know they’re a good hockey team, they’re going to play with a lot of desperation,” said Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch. “We need to match our level of play from Game 5 as much as possible.” In Game 5, Edmonton clinched a 3-1 victory, outshooting the Kings 46-22.

Oilers forwards Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid lead the series with impressive performances. Draisaitl and center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have both accumulated 10 points in the series, while Draisaitl recently received a nomination for the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player.

The Kings are relying on their captain, Anze Kopitar, who has tallied eight points in the first five games. However, the Kings’ recent offensive struggles have raised concerns among players. Defenseman Drew Doughty stated, “We know we’ve got to win one game and try to get back on home ice.”

In Game 6, the Kings must improve their scoring from previous matches, as they have been limited by the Oilers’ strong play. Kings’ forward Adrian Kempe noted that the team must step up offensively if they wish to extend the series.

As for the Oilers, they are aiming to continue their winning streak at home, having defeated the Kings in five consecutive series-clinching games since the 1991 postseason. Draisaitl emphasized the team’s confidence, saying, “We’re playing like we should and we’re the better team.”

With heavy expectations from both sides, Game 6 promises to be a thrilling matchup.