Kings Get One Point, but Fall 10 Behind Jets

Phillippe Boucher’s goal with 6:17 to go in the third period gave the Kings a 3-3 tie against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.

Boucher moved in from the Edmonton blue line and slapped Vitali Yachmenev’s pass past goaltender Curtis Joseph. It was the defenseman’s seventh goal of the season.

The tie left the Oilers five points in back of the Winnipeg Jets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, while the Kings sit five points behind the Oilers and 10 behind the Jets, who defeated Colorado, 3-1, on Wednesday night.

Both teams had power-play opportunities in the overtime period. King goaltender Byron Dafoe was tested several times while his team was short-handed, but he made solid saves.

Ray Ferraro gave the Kings a 1-0 lead 1:31 into the game as he ripped a shot behind Joseph. It was Ferraro’s 300th NHL goal and his second since joining the Kings in a trade with the New York Rangers.

Edmonton speedster Todd Marchant beat Dafoe with a backhander on a breakaway to tie the game.

Mariusz Czerkawski broke the tie in the second period with his 16th goal of the season, tipping Dean McAmmond’s return pass past Dafoe.

Edmonton took a 3-1 advantage when Zdeno Ciger scored while former Oiler Kevin Todd was sitting out a goaltender interference penalty. Ciger’s centering pass glanced off a defenseman for his 30th goal of the season.

The Kings pulled within one 46 seconds later when Vladimir Tsyplakov scored his third goal of the year over Joseph’s glove.

The fast-paced and spirited affair reached a boiling point with 12:55 remaining when Sean O’Donnell delivered a forearm smash that bloodied Czerkawski’s nose. Jason Arnott chased after O’Donnell behind the Kings’ net, knocked down Dafoe and briefly fought the lanky defenseman.

The five-game season series between the Kings and Oilers ended with the Oilers holding a 3-1-1 record.