EDMONTON -- Connor McDavid scored the only goal on his 28th birthday, and Stuart Skinner made 30 saves for the Edmonton Oilers in a 1-0 win against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place on Monday. It was McDavid’s 72nd game-winning goal, tying Glenn Anderson for the most in franchise history.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Los Angeles Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper, front left, makes a save against Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid ...

Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement, for slew-footing Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid during Monday night’s game.

Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey takes a look at the games that are scheduled and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will be victorious in head-to-head matchups.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 6. Made a swell seam pass to set up McDavid’s first period Grade A. He got wiped out hard by massive Tanner Jeannot in the second but hung in there. Slammed a slot shot at net half-way through the third but failed to drain it. GAS: ES +2/-0; ST 1/0

The Edmonton Oilers know how to win. And they know how to beat the Los Angeles Kings. This group has always been comfortable in a wide-open game, but the past few seasons they have learned how to be comfortable in a tight-checking,

For the first time in two months, the Los Angeles Kings lost two games in a row in regulation getting shutout by the Edmonton Oilers 1-0.

While Connor McDavid served the final game of his suspension, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 at Rogers Place on Saturday (Jan. 25).

"Los Angeles' Adrian Kempe has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for slew-footing Edmonton's Connor McDavid," the NHL Department of Player Safety announced on X on Tuesday. More NHL: Flames' Rasmus Andersson Throws Shade at Oilers, Canucks While Discussing Potential Trade Rumors

The Kings were the last NHL team to reach the midpoint of their season. Let's grade every player's contributions so far.

As a 5-on-5 force, the Oilers remain a top-three club in both shot attempt differential (measuring total puck possession) and expected goals rate per Moneypuck.com. Then there is the largest concern of all, which has bitten the Oilers when push comes to shove every year they've been within arm's reach of a Cup: Goaltending.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are making a strong bid to get back to the playoffs and even if that push falls short, it’s easy to believe this version of the club is just beginning to rise.