Kings defeat Oilers in OT to grab 3-2 series lead

EDMONTON — Adrian Kempe scored 1:12 into overtime and the L.A. Kings held on for a 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers to take a 3-2 lead in their first-round playoff series on Tuesday.

Kempe muscled his way past his defender then wrapped a shot around Edmonton goalie Mike Smith to secure the victory.

The result means the Oilers need a win in Game 6 in L.A. on Thursday to stave off elimination.

Kempe also scored and had an assist for the Kings in regulation, while Troy Stecher, Andreas Anthansiou and Phillip Danault all had goals.

Edmonton got two goals and an assist from Leon Draisaitl, while Connor McDavid scored and contributed a pair of helpers. Zack Kassian also scored for the Oilers, who were blanked 4-0 in Game 4 on Sunday.

Jonathan Quick made 24 saves for L.A. and Edmonton’s Mike Smith stopped 38-of-43 shots.

The Oilers came into the third period down 3-1 but used their special teams to claw their way back into the game with two power-play goals and a short-handed tally.

Edmonton scored the equalizer on yet another man advantage with 4:52 left in regulation after Danault was called for interference.

Collecting a slick pass across the slot from McDavid, Draisaitl hammered a one-timer from the bottom of the faceoff circle for his fifth goal of the playoffs and his second of the game.

A four-minute minor set up much of the action in the third after Ryan McLeod was called for a high stick on Matt Roy 9:13 into the frame.

The Kings took a 4-2 lead at the 11:06 mark when a backdoor shot from Danault trickled over the goal line.

L.A. stayed on the power play, but it was Edmonton who scored next.

McDavid drove the net then sliced a puck into the slot where Alex Iafallo tried to sweep it away but put it instead on