Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl lead Oilers' 8-1 rout of struggling Kings

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Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Jeff Malott, third from left, moves the puck against Edmonton Oilers defenseman Spencer Stastney, center Connor McDavid, and defenseman Ty Emberson, from left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun) — Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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12:22 AM on Friday, February 27

By GREG BEACHAM

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Connor McDavid secured his ninth 100-point season with a goal and an assist, Leon Draisaitl had a goal and three assists, and the Edmonton Oilers snapped their four-game skid with an 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

McDavid scored his 35th goal and Draisaitl got his 30th during his fourth four-point game of the season as the Oilers again routed the opponent they've knocked out of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the past four seasons.

Jake Walman scored two goals, Zach Hyman had a goal and two assists, and Ty Emberson, Vasily Podkolzin and Andrew Mangiapane also scored in Edmonton's impressive rebound from a painful loss in Anaheim. Connor Ingram made 22 saves for the Oilers, who have returned from the Olympic break with 13 goals in two games.

Warren Foegele scored for the Kings, who have lost five straight games since January. Los Angeles' humiliating third-period collapse against Vegas one night earlier bled into this game: When Hyman scored on a power play midway through the second period, the Kings had allowed 10 goals in their past 41 minutes of play.

Darcy Kuemper gave up four goals on 15 shots before getting pulled early in the second period for Anton Forsberg.

Some Kings fans targeted coach Jim Hiller for the struggles, repeatedly chanting “Fire Hiller!” in the third period.

Emberson opened the scoring with his first goal since Oct. 28. Podkolzin scored 54 seconds later on another shot that could have been stopped by Kuemper.

Mangiapane beat Kuemper cleanly on an odd-man rush early in the second, and McDavid made it 4-1 when Kuemper comically fell down 6 feet outside his crease to leave an open net for the NHL's top scorer.

Up next

Oilers: At San Jose on Saturday.

Kings: Host Calgary on Saturday.

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