Edmonton Oilers 6, Los Angeles Kings 3
STYX'S RECAP - BOXSCORE
LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Even with All-Star Rob Blake back in the lineup, the Los Angeles Kings could not salvage the finale of their disastrous homestand.
Doug Weight scored twice and Tommy Salo made 18 of his 25 saves in the third period, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a big 6-3 victory over Los Angeles. Edmonton improved to 1-2-0-0 on its four-game road trip and moved four points ahead of Los Angeles and Phoenix for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Oilers conclude the trip against reeling Anaheim on Wednesday.
Blake returned to the lineup after missing two games with a shoulder injury, but it not prevent Los Angeles from ending its season-high eight-game homestand with a 2-5-1-0 record. The Kings dropped the final two games and fell to 11-11-5-1 at the Staples Center. Edmonton used its special teams to get the victory. The Oilers went 3-for-7 on the power play while limiting the Kings to very few scoring chances on their six opportunities, including two in each period.
Weight assisted on rookie Shawn Horcoff's goal 3 1/2 minutes into the game before snapping a 1-1 tie late in the first with his 13th goal of the season. After having his initial shot from the left point blocked during a power play, Weight followed it up and gained possession in the slot before putting a wrist shot by goaltender Jamie Storr. Los Angeles continued to be undisciplined early in the second when rookie Eric Belanger took a boarding penalty 12 seconds into the session. Late in the ensuing power-play, Oilers rookie Mike Comrie picked up a loose puck at the right side of the crease and circled the net before stuffing home his third goal of the season.
With just over 13 minutes gone in the second, Ryan Smyth deflected in a point shot by defenseman Tom Poti to give Edmonton a 4-1 lead. It was Smyth's team-leading 21st goal of the season. Storr was pulled after Smyth's tally in favor of former Oiler Steve Passmore.
Los Angeles got a goal from Bryan Smolinski late in the second period before Glen Murray notched his second of the game 28 seconds into the third that cut the deficit to 4-3. The Kings kept the puck in the Edmonton zone for most of the third period, but did not solve Salo. Kings winger Nelson Emerson failed to redirect a pass into a vacated net with 18 minutes left while Salo made nice saves on shots by Murray and defenseman Jere Karalahti.
Mike Grier restored a two-goal lead away with Edmonton's third power-play goal. Just past the midway point of the third, Grier took a pass from Todd Marchant in the slot before putting a shot through the pads of Passmore for his 12th goal of the season. Weight put the game away by hitting an empty net with 35 seconds left.
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