Kings blow a 4-goal lead before Danault scores the last-minute winner in 6-5 opening win over Oilers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Kings led Edmonton 4-0 moments before the second-period buzzer, and they were up 5-3 with 2 1/2 minutes left in the third. Both leads vanished under the blizzard of offense so often created by Connor McDavid and the Oilers at their playoff peak.

And then the Kings won their first-round series opener anyway on a profoundly ugly goal by Phillip Danault, who chunked a shot that somehow fluttered past Warren Foegele's leaping screen with 42 seconds left.

“I got all of it,” Danault said with a smirk.

The Kings have lost three straight first-round series to the mighty Oilers, so they'll trade any style points for wins. They improbably got the first one Monday night, shrugging off McDavid's spectacular tying goal with 1:28 left and surging past Edmonton 6-5.

“We could have made it less dramatic, but credit to them,” Kings coach Jim Hiller said. “We had to do it late.”

Game 2 is Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Zach Hyman and McDavid scored with an extra attacker to complete the Oilers' tying comeback, but Los Angeles became the fourth team in Stanley Cup playoffs history to win in regulation despite blowing a four-goal lead.

Los Angeles has home-ice advantage this spring for the first time in its tetralogy with Edmonton, and the Kings came out flying in the arena where they had the NHL’s best home record.

Andrei Kuzmenko had a goal and two assists in his Stanley Cup playoff debut, and Adrian Kempe added another goal and two assists for the second-seeded Kings. Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist apiece, and Darcy Kuemper made 20 saves.

“I don’t think we took the foot off the gas, but that’s a high-powered offensive team over there,” Kings captain Anze Kopitar said. “When you give them a sniff, they’ll take it, and they certainly did. Obviously being up 4-1 going into the third period, we want to lock it down and not make it interesting.”

That's when the Oilers woke up and made it a memorable night: Leon Draisaitl, Mattias Janmark and Corey Perry scored before Hyman and McDavid came through.

“We said it many times last year: We never give up,” Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said. “They’re a resilient team. They stay composed. We’ve seen a lot of adversity over the last two playoffs, and guys stay with it. They don’t get too rattled when things aren’t going very well.”

McDavid had a goal and three assists for the Oilers, who reached Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last season. Skinner stopped 24 shots.

“From our group in here, the pushback was fantastic and expected," Oilers forward Adam Henrique said. "It’s tough, obviously, giving up the one right after tying it up.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, left, scores on Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner during the second period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Members of the Los Angeles Kings, right, celebrate a goal by left wing Andrei Kuzmenko as Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner stands in goal during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings center Phillip Danault celebrates his goal during the second period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala celebrates his goal during the third period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings center Alex Turcotte, left, and Edmonton Oilers left wing Viktor Arvidsson vie for the puck during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, left, and Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman scuffle in front of the goal during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. is expected to miss four-to-six weeks because of a strained right oblique.

Chisholm was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, three days after getting hurt during a swing in a game at the Baltimore Orioles.

Manager Aaron Boone said Chisholm has a high-grade strain.

“I actually just was talking a couple of minutes ago to him he even said he couldn’t believe it. So we’ll see," Boone said before a series opener against Tampa Bay. "I think it’s going to be some time. In his mind it’s going to be real quick but I think it’s going to be a while, but we’ll just see how he heals up.”

Chisholm grabbed at his side after fouling off a first pitch from Kyle Gibson during the first inning, took a ball and then stepped out of the batter’s box to stretch the side, prompting Boone and an athletic trainer to come out and speak with him.

Chisholm remained in the game, doubled into the right-field corner on the next pitch and when the ball was bobbled headed to third and slid in headfirst. He appeared in discomfort and immediately left the game for a pinch runner.

“That’s kind of why the number is four to six weeks,” Boone said. “That being said, Jazz, his history is he is quick healer, so we’ll see, but that’s kind of the easy diagnosis.”

Chisholm's roster move was retroactive to Wednesday, and the Yankees recalled infielder Jorbit Vivas from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Acquired from Miami last July 27, Chisholm is hitting .181 with seven homers and 17 RBIs in 30 games. He was sidelined between Aug. 12 and 23 last year because of a sprained left elbow sustained on a headfirst slide.

Vivas was in the starting lineup at second base and batting ninth. He hit .319 with two homers and 15 RBIs in 26 games at Triple-A.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. strikes out swinging during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, April 28, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)