LOS ANGELES — If this was a playoff preview, the Kings' postseason journey won't last long. And it might not be through any fault of their own.
The Kings and Edmonton switched spots in the Pacific division Tuesday, with the Oilers moving up to second and dropping the Kings to third on the strength of a 3-1 victory at Crypto.com Arena. Two goals from the NHL's most potent power play and a surprisingly sound checking game did the trick for the Oilers and ended an 11-0-2 home point streak for the Kings, who have scored one goal in their last two games against the team they're slotted to play when the playoffs begin the week of April 17.
That's hardly a happy prospect for the Kings, who made upgrades in goal and on defense this season when they acquired Joonas Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikov but still might not be good enough to stop NHL scoring leader Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl — who increased his league lead by scoring his 31st power-play goal on Tuesday — and company.
