Saturday, May 14, 2022 10:00 PM (ET)

Oilers close out Kings in Game 7 as Connor McDavid shines

Field Level Media
May 15, 2022

Connor McDavid scored once and added an assist while goaltender Mike Smith recorded the shutout as the host Edmonton Oilers claimed a 2-0 Game 7 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

Smith made 29 saves to earn his second shutout of the series and sixth playoff goose egg in his career. Cody Ceci scored the series-winning goal.

Jonathan Quick was outstanding for the Kings while stopping 39 shots, but his teammates couldn't find the offense to win the Western Conference first-round series.

Edmonton, which advanced past the opening round for the first time since 2017, will face the winner of the series between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars, who meet in Game 7 on Sunday.

The Oilers held the bulk of the momentum all game, especially in a one-sided second period in which they outshot the visitors 24-11. Several times the Oilers came agonizingly close to scoring -- including one play when Kings forward Andreas Athanasiou swiped a rolling puck off the goal line after it squeaked past his netminder.

They were finally rewarded at 13:15 of the middle frame when Ceci moved to the right face-off dot for a pass from McDavid and lifted a top-shelf wrist shot for his first goal of the playoffs.

With his assist, McDavid -- by far the most dominating skater on the ice -- is the first Oilers players with 10 helpers in a playoff series since Mark Messier in the 1989 Smythe Division semifinal against the Kings.

McDavid wasn't finished. He sealed the deal with 3:53 remaining when he was denied on a breakaway and a wraparound only to gain the puck again and lift a shot into the cage for his fourth goal of the series and 14th point.

He's the second player in NHL history to record six multi-point games in one series, joining former Boston Bruins star Rick Middleton, who racked up 19 points (5-14-19) in the 1983 division final against the Buffalo Sabres.

McDavid is only the fifth player in NHL history to record four or more goals and 10 or more assists in one playoff series.

--Field Level Media

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