They don’t ask how, they ask how many.

Edmonton started this game off the right way with two high danger opportunities from Darnell Nurse and Trent Frederick. The early pressure got to LA when a dogpile on McDavid created a wide open opportunity for Nugent-Hopkins who would give Edmonton their first lead of the series.

LA continued to give Edmonton chances off of sloppy plays in their own end. McDavid drew an interference call off a routine zone entry, and Bouchard pelted Kuemper right off the face off to make the game 2-0 Edmonton.

A much better start tonight.

Late in the first frame Adrian Kempe would cut the lead in half after he was able to gain some space on Connor McDavid, who left his man to pressure the blue line. It was the only goal to make it past Pickard in the first, off the stick of a red hot Kempe – who has scored in every game this series.

The Kings were gifted two different penalties in the second period that both led to goals. Edmonton’s powerkill continues to be ineffective. Too often the team let’s a lone shooter into the zone with space – and not without consequence.

Connor Brown was able to tie the game at 3-3 off a wicked backhand pass from Evander Kane, but the celebration was cut short when Trevor Moore poked the stick through Pickard’s five-hole a mere 9 seconds later.

The third period looked grim to begin with. The Oilers had ten minutes of sustained offence with nothing to show for it. It looked like Kuemper might play the rest of the game lights out, until Kane scored a greasy goal inside the crease. The goal was reviewed for a kicking motion, but luckily for Edmonton, he managed to get his blade on the puck before it crossed the line. LA issued a very questionable challenge for goaltender interference, and it didn’t pan out; Kane’s goal would stand and Edmonton was off to the powerplay.

Ten seconds later, Draisaitl feeds Bouchard who rushed deep into the zone and beat Kuemper cleanly. 5-4 Oilers. An absolute momentum shift that Edmonton desperately needed. LA was clearly rattled. Their players were scrambling for the rest of the period, barring one extended shift where Pickard had to make a tricky triple-deflection save.

The cherry on top of this game came on the 6th goal where Zach Hyman laid out Drew Doughty flat onto the ground. He made a quick pass to Connor McDavid who preceeded to skate the puck all the way to the net – he was not taking any chances on this empty netter. Connor Brown scored a second empty netter with seven seconds left in the night.

7-4 Oilers. 2-1 LA in the series. Plenty of hockey left to play; and while the Kings still look like the favorites, the Oilers aren’t going to go down without a fight.

Game 4 coming Sunday.