LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings’ season crashed to a halt on May 1, 2025, their playoff hopes snuffed out by a 6-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 at Rogers Place. For the fourth straight year, the Oilers sent the Kings packing in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a bitter pill that left players and coaches grappling with a familiar sting. “This one hurts a little more,” Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said, his voice heavy after the game. “We had it in our grasp, and we let it slip.”
The Kings started strong in the series, snagging a 2-0 lead with convincing wins at Crypto.com Arena—6-5 and 6-2. Warren Foegele and Trevor Moore powered the offense early, with Darcy Kuemper holding the net steady. But the tide turned in Edmonton. Game 3 saw the Kings blow a 4-3 lead in the third period, falling 7-4 after a botched coach’s challenge led to a quick pair of Oilers goals. Game 4 was a heartbreaker—a 4-3 overtime loss after Evan Bouchard’s late equalizer and Leon Draisaitl’s power-play dagger.
By Game 5, the Oilers found their groove, dominating with a 3-1 win in Los Angeles. Mattias Janmark’s third-period goal broke a 1-1 tie, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sealed it with an empty-netter. Kuemper faced a barrage, stopping 43 of 46 shots, but the Kings’ offense fizzled, managing just 22 shots. Andrei Kuzmenko’s power-play goal was their lone spark.
Game 6 was do-or-die, and the Kings fought hard but couldn’t match Edmonton’s depth. Zach Hyman led the Oilers with seven goals across the series, while Draisaitl racked up points in his 19th straight playoff game against L.A., tying an NHL record. Connor McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins chipped in, and Calvin Pickard, Edmonton’s surprise starter in net, outshone a struggling Stuart Skinner. The Kings’ six forwards with two or more goals—Kuzmenko, Foegele, Moore, and others—weren’t enough to counter Edmonton’s relentless attack, which outscored L.A. 23-12 overall.
Coach Jim Hiller, in his first full playoff run, watched his team lead or tie in the third period of all six games, only to lose the final four. A pivotal moment came in Game 3, when Hiller’s challenge of an Evander Kane goal backfired, costing a penalty and the lead. “We had chances,” Hiller said post-game. “But you don’t get to redo those moments.” The Kings’ power play, a strength early, went quiet, and their penalty kill faltered against Edmonton’s stars.
This series marked a rare historical footnote: only the second time since 1967 that two teams have clashed in the first round four years running, echoing the Bruins-Canadiens battles of the 1980s. For L.A., it’s a grim streak—five straight first-round exits, four at Edmonton’s hands. Doughty, playing his 100th playoff game in Game 5, became the first Kings defenseman to hit that mark, but the milestone was overshadowed by defeat. Anze Kopitar, at 102 playoff games, led the team quietly, his frustration evident in clipped post-game answers.
The Kings’ home dominance—31-6-4 in the regular season—didn’t carry over. Edmonton, with a 23-16-2 road record, cracked L.A.’s fortress, winning Game 5 and finishing the job at home. The Oilers’ comeback wins in Games 3, 4, and 5 were the first time in their franchise history they’ve pulled off three straight playoff rallies.
As the Kings left the ice in Edmonton, the weight of missed opportunities hung heavy. Quinton Byfield, a bright spot for L.A., said, “We believed we could finally get past them. It’s tough to swallow.” The team now faces an offseason of questions, with free agency and draft plans looming. Edmonton moves on to the second round, their sights set deeper into the playoffs.
The final score in Game 6 was Oilers 6, Kings 4. The series ended 4-2, Edmonton.