Oilers get hat tricks from Nugent-Hopkins and Draisaitl

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl each scored three goals as the Edmonton Oilers powered their way to an 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night.

Draisaitl added an assist, Connor McDavid had a goal and three assists, and Zack Kassian also scored for the Oilers (34-34-8), who moved within five points of a wild card in the Western Conference playoff race with six games remaining.

Alex Iafallo, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown and Carl Grundstrom scored for the Kings (28-40-8), who had won three straight.

Los Angeles started the scoring just more than two minutes into the opening period as Iafallo stepped into a shot from the high slot that hit a stick and beat Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen to the glove side for his 15th goal of the season.

Nugent-Hopkins responded just more than a minute later, deflecting a pass from Alex Chiasson past Kings starter Jonathan Quick.

The goals kept coming as Draisaitl bobbed and weaved his way through the defense before scoring his 44th of the season.

The Oilers made it 3-1 midway through the first when Kassian picked the top corner for his 15th of the season.

Nugent-Hopkins scored his 27th on a long, high shot to give Edmonton a three-goal lead with six minutes to play. He completed his hat trick before the first period was over, scoring with 12 seconds remaining in the frame on the power play. McDavid picked up an assist for his career-high 109th point of the season.

Jack Campbell replaced Quick to start the second period.

The Kings got one back eight minutes into the second when Doughty scored on a two-man advantage.

McDavid made a slick move in tight to score his 39th and make it 6-2 about 12 minutes into the period.

The Oilers kept it up with another goal a couple of minutes later when McDavid set up Draisaitl on the doorstep for his second of the game.

Brown got the Kings’ second power-play goal of the game with three minutes left in the second before Grundstrom struck on a 4-on-4 with 44 seconds left.

Draisaitl got his hat trick with 1:31 to go in the third, giving him 99 points on the season.

UP NEXT

Kings: At the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

Oilers: Host the Dallas Stars on Thursday.