Stumbling Kings fall for fourth time in five games

EDMONTON, Canada -- Ales Hemsky scored two goals and added an assist and the Edmonton Oilers won their third in a row with a 5-4 victory over the Kings on Thursday night.

Andrew Cogliano, Robert Nilsson and Fernando Pisani also scored for the Oilers, who have won six in a row at home.

“I can’t remember the last time we got five goals, it was like ‘80s night out there,� Oilers Coach Craig MacTavish said. “Chances at both ends, especially in the second period, it was whirlwind hockey. Which is fine if you come away on the right side of it.�

Dustin Brown had two goals and Anze Kopitar and Patrick O’Sullivan also scored for the Kings, who have lost four of five.

The Oilers scored on their first shot only 47 seconds in. Hemsky sprung Cogliano and the rookie sent a wrist shot over the glove of goalie Dan Cloutier for his 11th goal.

“There was a lot of open ice out there and it was fun to play in,� Pisani said. “It was one of those games where you could see Hemsky just winding it up and watching him fly.�

The Kings responded when Kopitar had his shot blocked by Steve Staios, but picked up the rebound and scored with 5.7 seconds left. The Kings took the lead five minutes into the second after O’Sullivan scored from the left circle.

Edmonton tied it when Hemsky skated past Kopitar and scored a diving backhand goal with Cloutier down.

Less than two minutes later, it would be tied again.

The Oilers briefly regained the lead with 10:57 left in the second as Cloutier made the initial stop on Sam Gagner’s shot, but Nilsson chipped a backhander into the open net.

Brown tied it when he scored his 27th off a rebound.

Hemsky made it 4-3 with his second goal on a long shot. Only 1:08 later, Geoff Sanderson sent a pass in front that Pisani stretched out far enough to tip past Cloutier for the sixth goal of the wild second period.

“The second period reminded me of some of the games we used to play in when Kevin [Lowe] was playing for the team and a couple other great players were playing for the team,� Kings Coach Marc Crawford said. “It was end-to-end chances and it was loose to say the least. It’s not really the type of game that we want to be playing.�