Kings rally, edge Oilers in OT in Game 1 of WC Quarterfinal
Iafallo capitalized on a power play with a one-timer after a feed from Viktor Arvidsson.
"I was just trying to get lost; we have a lot of good players that can make good passes," Iafallo said. "I was just in the middle there and trying to find a good spot. [Anze Kopitar] had it on the wall and got it down to 'Arvi' and I was just trying to get in a good spot past the defenseman and he was able to make that pass to me, and I just hammered it home."
The power play was stellar for the Kings throughout the game. Kopitar made it a 3-3 game with 17 seconds left in regulation. With Joonas Korpisalo pulled for an extra attacker, Kopitar pounced on a rebound after Stuart Skinner left the puck open after stopping a shot from Phillip Danault.
Kopitar also had three assists, and Kempe scored twice in the third for Los Angeles, the No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division. Korpisalo made 37 saves.
Game 2 of the best-of-7 series will take place at Rogers Place.
"I think it was more timely goes than just relying on the power play," said Kopitar. "Tonight was no different, getting the tying goal very late and then the winning goal in OT. You're down two and you can pretty much change the whole momentum of the game with one shot. [Adrian Kempe] got us going, and we were able to roll from there."
Video: LAK@EDM, Gm1: Iafallo caps off passing play in OT
Leon Draisaitl scored twice for the Oilers, and Evan Bouchard added a goal. Skinner made 31 saves in his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut after leading NHL rookies in wins during the regular season (29).
"It's frustrating, but we've got to be more mature than that," Draisaitl said. "It's a 3-1 game and [there's] eight minutes left or whatever, so we've got to lock that down."
Oilers forward Derek Ryan had a goal disallowed at 1:54 of overtime when his stick was above the crossbar for a redirection of Ryan McLeod's shot.
"When you've got a two-goal lead heading into the third period, you've got to be playing somewhat of a decent game," Bouchard said. "When you go into a third period up two goals, you've got to find a way to close it out and win it.
"It's a long series, that's why you've got seven games. I think we've got to learn from this definitely and be ready for the next game."
Kempe cut it to 2-1 just 52 seconds into the third on a backhand from between the circles, but Draisaitl scored his second of the game at 8:46 on a loose puck in front of the net to give Edmonton a 3-1 lead.
Kempe scored again to cut it to 3-2 at 11:23 with a wrist shot from the right circle. Kopitar had the secondary assist.
"Kopitar is obviously one of the best leaders out there," Kempe said. "He takes charge when he is out there, and we were talking after the first period we weren't really happy with the way our line was playing after the first. Kopi took charge in the second period ... obviously we scored a couple of goals, and he had four points."
The Kings outshot the Oilers 14-7 in the third.
"I didn't think we played particularly well in the third period," Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said. "There were moments in that period we would like to have back, and we could be better. In the end, they scored a 6-on-4 goal with 17 seconds or so to tie it up. That's disappointing, and we couldn't find the winner in overtime."
Draisaitl gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead at 6:57 of the first period with a shot from inside the left circle, and Bouchard made it 2-0 at 12:31 with a snap shot from the slot during a 5-on-3 power play.
"We played some good hockey for the most part," Draisaitl said. "It's not how we planned it. We obviously wanted to come out and win this game, but we didn't, so we've got to regroup and get ready for the next one."
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