In Edmonton, Evander Kane and Leon Draisaitl set the tone for the evening’s affairs in Game 5 on Tuesday night.
Both scored in the first period to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead early in the first.
In the first easy game of the series, the Oilers doubled up the Los Angeles Kings, 6-3,
The Oilers lead the series, 3-2, with Game 6 in LA on Saturday.
Nick Bjugstad hit for a double in the win.
“I just focused on getting in front of the net, that’s a big thing with (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) and (Zach) Hyman,” Bjugstad said. “He’s digging all the time and ‘Nuge’ can make plays, so I just made an emphasis to try and get to the net.”
Stuart Skinner made 25 saves in the win.
“I thought it was just huge that we were able to get the win,” Skinner said. “The guys in front of me did an outstanding job. Obviously, we were able to score a few goals, which was huge. I think just how we played all night defensively, in the neutral zone, we definitely wanted it tonight.
“Obviously, I’ve had to go through a lot of experiences to kind of get me to where I am, have the demeanor that you guys (the media) might see. After every single day, tomorrow when we come to the rink, it’s another day at work. That just continues. I’ve got a job to do and I’m going to do my best to do that every day.”
LA’s Alex Iafallo trimmed the deficit to 2-1 at 13:12 of the first.
The Oilers replied a minute later off a strike by Brett Kulak for a 3-1 lead.
Adrian Kempe scored with two and half minutes left in the opening stanza to cut the deficit back to one, at 3-2.
“It was overwhelming early in the game, but when we made it 3-2, we had an opportunity to get back in,” Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said. “That fourth one really hurt us, obviously, and then from there, there was no catching up. That obviously wasn’t good enough. [It] wasn’t close to good enough. It probably doesn’t get you a win in Game 2 of the regular season. So, move on.
“We have to bring our best to Game 6 to even have an opportunity at the series. And I’m confident our group can do that.”
Bjugstad hit for his first of the game just past the midway point in the second for a 4-2 lead to the Oilers.
Zach Hyman pushed the lead to 5-2 at 15:47 of the second.
Bjugstad’s second of the game came in the third period for a 6-2 lead for Edmonton.
“I didn’t know I had that second one; I thought ‘Hymes’ did, so that was a fortunate one,” Bjugstad said. “I think just as a unit, a five-man unit all night, everyone was together
and on the same page, and that’s what it takes to win here.”
Quinton Byfield scored his first career playoff goal for the 6-3 final.
Joonas Korpisalo got the start and made 15 saves, yielding four goals, before getting the hook in the second period.
Pheonix Copley made six saves in relief.

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