Ahead of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Los Angeles Kings forward Phillip Danault made a controversial statement about Kris Knoblauch and the Edmonton Oilers, raising the stakes just as the two teams prepare to square off in the first-round series.
The Oilers and Kings are set to face off in a best-of-seven playoff series for the fourth straight NHL season. It will mark the 11th postseason meeting between the two franchises, with Edmonton holding the upper hand—boasting an 8-2 record and riding a six-series winning streak against LA. Still, the Kings are determined to leave those losses behind and finally exorcise their Oilers demons.
As it’s often the case in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the tension is thick enough to cut with a knife. This matchup brings an extra twist, having been confirmed with regular season games still left to play — giving players additional time to stew and load up the bulletin board material.
After the Kings dismantled an injury-riddled Oilers squad with a lopsided 5-0 win, Danault delivered a blunt confession about Knoblauch’s gameplan during the matchup at Rogers Place.
“They just have their B-squad in trying to hurt us,” Kings forward Phillip Danault accused during an intermission, via Bleacher Report. “That’s pretty much the message sent tonight, that’s what I’m thinking.”
Danault’s vivid statement will certainly linger as the Kings and Oilers face off in the postseason, with Los Angeles holding home-ice advantage. In each of their last three playoff meetings, the team with home-ice advantage advanced.
Controversial cross-check
Mid-way through the second period, Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse delivered an over-aggressive cross-check to the head of Quintin Byfield, causing the Kings’ star to miss the rest of the game and awakening the wrath of the visiting team.
Byfield had already made his presence felt earlier in the game, scoring the 2-0 goal, extending his goal streak to five games. However, his availability ahead of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is now mired in uncertainty.
“No update,” Kings head coach Jim Hiller said, via NHL.com. “He wasn’t able to finish, that’s all. It doesn’t matter how I saw it.”
Out of hand
The chirpy, hard-nosed matchup between the Oilers and Kings was reflected on the stat sheet, as dozens of penalties were handed out over the first two periods. While no penalties were assessed in the final frame, the two teams still combined for 69 penalty minutes.
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The Oilers registered the fifth-highest PIM total in a game this season, recording 53 penalty minutes. The Buffalo Sabres set the record for most PIM in a game this campaign, after being called for 83 penalty minutes during the 7-3 loss at Detroit on March 12, 2025.