The theory went something like this: Having faced Edmonton for two straight springs, nobody knew better how to defuse this explosive Oilers offence than the stingy, defence-bent Los Angeles Kings. In practice, however, it has played out in the inverse. The Oilers have gone off.

On a Friday night in Los Angeles, we were reminded of Evander Kane's true worth, as he finished Game 3 with a Gordie Howe hat trick in a dominant 6-1 Oilers win.

The Los Angeles Kings won their fourth consecutive overtime game over the Edmonton Oilers by a 5-4 score, a game the Kings deserved to win.

Cam Talbot was destined to tend goal in this Round 1 series. Yet, fate has him at the wrong end of the rink, the third Los Angeles Kings goalie in as many springs with a mandate to shut down Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers.

As another playoffs opens for the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl era here in Edmonton, we bring you the next in line among NHL seniors who feel like it’s graduation time this spring.

With Evander Kane revealing that “he’s not sure” if he’ll be able to go in Game 1, the door is wide open for the hard-charging rookie Holloway to continue to stake a claim to an everyday lineup spot here.