LOS ANGELES (AP) -- With four games remaining, the Los Angeles Kings believe they can survive the intense race for a Stanley Cup
playoff spot in the NHL's Western Conference.
Ziggy Palffy scored twice, including the winning goal 28 seconds
into overtime, to lead the Kings past the Edmonton Oilers 4-3
Saturday night.
Los Angeles used the victory to tie Chicago for fourth place in the overall Western Conference standings. Five points separate seven teams in the conference race for spots in the playoffs.
"We're very confident," said Kings center Jason Allison, who
set up the winning goal. "We've been playing playoff-caliber
hockey for the last two months, and we feel we can beat any team on
any night."
Despite the loss, eighth-place Edmonton holds a two-point lead
over idle Dallas and Vancouver, which are tied for ninth.
"We're pretty happy to squeeze out one point," said Oilers
forward Anson Carter, who scored twice and sent the game into
overtime with 11 seconds to play in the third period. "If we can
get a point in every game, we'll be in good shape. It was a tough
game. We were battling from behind most of the time."
Palffy scored his team-high 30th goal after Allison freed the
puck from the left-wing boards in the neutral zone to start a
2-on-1 breakaway.
Allison skated down the left wing and sent a cross-ice pass to
Palffy, who fired a backhanded shot past goalie Tommy Salo at the
right post.
Carter's 28th goal tied the score. Ryan Smyth stole the puck
from the Kings' Philippe Boucher and passed to Carter, who
converted at the right post.
Kings' goalie Felix Potvin made 17 saves to earn his 30th
victory. Salo stopped 25 shots in defeat.
Game notes
Kings G Felix Potvin is challenging Rogie Vachon's
single-season club records for goals-against average, games and
minutes. Before Saturday night's contest, Potvin had a 2.30 average
in 67 games totalling 3,833 minutes. Vachon compiled a 2.24 average
in 1974-75, and played 4,107 minutes in 70 games in 1977-78. ...
Edmonton recalled G Ty Conklin from Hamilton of the AHL to replace
backup G Jussi Markkanen, whose wife had a baby early Saturday
morning. ... Los Angeles led the NHL in power-play efficiency (20.7
percent) going into Saturday night. ... Edmonton C Dominic Pittis
missed his 18th consecutive game because of a concussion suffered
in practice Feb. 22. ... Los Angeles C Jason Allison has eight
points in his last four games and leads the NHL with 31 power-play
assists. ... The Kings improved their home record in their past 10
games to 8-0-2.