The Los Angeles Kings aren’t just competing with the Edmonton Oilers. They’re beating them, outplaying them, and out-grinding a team that’s been handed Western Conference heavyweight treatment for years.
And they’re doing it with the swagger of a team that’s sick of being the little brother.
This dominance is evident in the last two games at home, where the Kings have a 2-0 lead over the Edmonton Oilers in the 2025 NHL Playoffs — and they're doing so with swagger, grit, and no fear. Here's why L.A. seems destined to flip the script.
Let’s explore the biggest takeaways on how the Kings have looked so good to start their playoff series against the team that many thought was superior to them.
Big-Time Performances from Its Supporting Cast
Veterans like Anze Kopitar, Phillip Danault, and their young stars, Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kuzmenko, and Quinton Byfield, have all played clutch and done their roles to win.
Kempe was a monster in Game 2 with two goals, two assists, and eight shots on goal, with 4 points. He also leads the playoffs thus far with the most points scored with seven.
The clutchest player for the Kings, you could argue, has been Danault, who was huge in Game 1 with his two goals, including the game-winning goal with just under 44 seconds left to stop the Oilers' late comeback after trailing 4-0 and tying the game at 5.
Even though game 1 was almost a choke job by the Kings, they remained focused and committed to closing out the game, which is precisely what they did, showing no fear or worry.
Almost everyone who is supposed to show up and play big has done so in this series, but it seems in these last two games, it’s been someone different who’s stepped up big to help the Kings win.
As I mentioned earlier, Kopitar is one of the primary reasons why the Kings are currently leading 2-0. At the age of 37, he is still playing at a high level and is one of the biggest reasons why the Kings have looked so good. Kopitar is also one of the top point leaders in the playoffs, tied for second, two points behind Kempe with five points.
It’s gotten so bad that the Oilers' goaltender, Stuart Skinner, an excellent goaltender, may be benched in favor of Calvin Pickard in Game 3 to improve their defense and make an adjustment to stay alive.
Mind Games: L.A. is in Edmonton's Head
When Adrian Kempe provides two goals and two assists in a statement win, he doesn't even crack a smile, because this isn't an upset.
This is business as usual. The Kings went into the series not just hoping to hang in there, but to take command — and they've done precisely that.
From the opening shift, Los Angeles has dictated the pace. They're not reacting to McDavid's bursts of speed — they're taking away lanes, forcing him wide, and finishing every check.
Whenever Edmonton tries to create a momentum-swinging highlight-reel rush, the Kings counter with a grinding forecheck, clever stick work, and a crushing hit in the corners.
It's not just physical — it's psychological. The Kings are provoking Edmonton into rage, causing them to take revenge penalties and sloppy giveaways. Evander Kane and Darnell Nurse were visibly frustrated in Game 2, jawing at officials, throwing late hits, and overcommitting on the transition game. That's not the Oilers playing optimally — that's the Kings getting them out of sync and into a street brawl they're not built to fight.
Body language behind the Oilers' bench: McDavid's head in hands, Draisaitl pacing back and forth, players at attention, tongues hanging, with stunned silence. There is bafflement. Desperation. A sense that this is not headed anywhere anyone in Edmonton had thought.
The Los Angeles team seems loose instead. Focused. Calm. They recognize this playbook, but have finally arrived at the correct conclusion.
Home Ice, Real Loud: Crypto Is a Fortress
It’s the first time the Kings have home-ice advantage since 2016, and it’s paying off in the most significant way.
If there's one advantage that's tipping this series, it's not necessarily tactics or execution — it's geography. The Kings have turned Crypto.com Arena into a postseason pressure cooker, and Edmonton is catching every hit.
L.A. went an NHL-record 31-6-4 at home throughout the regular season, and all that confidence obviously carried over into the playoffs. Not only is the building loud, but it's also relentless. The energy has been dynamite from the opening face-off to the final whistle, and the Kings are surfing this tidal wave.
This isn't about noise — it's about confidence. The Kings feel at home, playing faster, cleaner, and more physical in front of their crowd. They're winning battles, tilting the ice, and keeping Edmonton on its heels. It's no accident that the Kings' best special teams work and scoring depth have come alive in Los Angeles.
Sasha Barkov status for Game 3 remains unknown following illegal hit from Brandon HagelA small group of Florida Panthers took the ice in Fort Lauderdale on Friday.
Sergei Bobrovsky locked back into playoff-mode, providing elite goaltending for PanthersSergei Bobrovsky didn’t have a particularly busy night in terms of stopping pucks on Thursday.
Three takeaways: Panthers defend well in own zone, penalty kill comes up bigThe Florida Panthers will be a happy bunch when they take the short flight home to Fort Lauderdale.
