Latest news with #Kempe
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Edmonton Oilers send Kings to brink of elimination with dominating 3-1 win in Game Five: Cult of Hockey Player Grades
The Edmonton Oilers have erased a 0-2 start to take a 3-2 series lead on the L.A. Kings after a commanding performance in Los Angeles in Game Five. The Oilers utterly dominated the Kings. The shots were 19-4 in the first goalless period of the series. It was 33-12 after two as Edmonton's hard press continued. And the shot clock ended 46-22, with the scoreboard 3-1. That, against the best home team in the NHL. The score flattered L.A., frankly. It should be stated that Darcy Kuemper was all that stood between that score and a beat-down. He was spectacular. At the other end, Calvin Pickard was more than good enough. The Kings now teeter on the brink of elimination, as the Oilers come home to Rogers Place for a potential clinching Game Six. CALVIN PICKARD. 7. Made his first save on the Power Play nine minutes in. Fought off a Doughty wrister through traffic in the opening frame. Two saves on Foegele to start the second, a toe stop and another up high. A high tip he had no chance on for the 1-0. Got just enough of a Kempe breakaway attempt to keep it 1-1. Looked very much like Byfield put his hand on the puck in the crease but there was no call. Nice glove grab on Kempe with 3:35 remaining. Another important save on Fiala late. Stopped twenty one of twenty-two. All he does is win! CONNOR McDAVID. 7. Absorbed eight hits in the first frame. A slick cross-ice pass to Bouchard who was stoned by Kemper in the first. Hard wrist shot forced Kuemper to squeeze a puck hard, keeping it 1-1. Great chance on a wrapround but it bounced inches wide. Neat feed up to Nugent-Hopkins at the attacking blueline with the 3-1 empty net goal. Seventy percent CF V5v5. RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. 7. A clear that killed off the Kings first period man advantage. Lost faceoff on the 1-0. Created a dangerous chance in front with a tidy backhand from below the goal line. Third period PK clear. Chip shot on net late in the third. Clutch blocked shot late then salted it away with the empty netter. ZACH HYMAN. 7. Drew a penalty with a near knee-on-knee from Kuzmenko. Physical, four hits in the first period alone. Received an excellent Nuge pass right in front but could not drain it. Another four hirs in the second. Six shots. Ten hits to end the night. JAKE WALMAN. 6. A great feed inside to Corey Perry who just missed the tap-in. 'Third assist' with a high clear of the zone which led to the Oilers break and the 2-1 at the other end. Jumped on a loose puck in his own end on the PK and cleared it safely away. Blocked shot same shift. EVAN BOUCHARD. 6. Robbed by Kuemper's lightning glove off a fine pass through coverage from McDavid. Gained the zone on McDavid's terrific chance at 9:52 of the second. Excellent stick to clear a loose puck from the slot early in the third. High Dangers 8-4 on his watch. Led the D-corps at 22:14 TOI. LEON DRAISAITL. 7. Fed Perry for a PP chance in the first. A splendid one-touch pass to spring Walman and Perry early in the second. Sprung Perry for a Grace 'A' in the second. Denied by Kuemper off a great backhand pass by Perry. A zone clear and then a pass out of the zone to earn the secondary assist on the 3-1. Great game. Seventy-four percent CF 5v5. VIKTOR ARVIDSSON. 5. Shot from the doorstep nine minutes into the first, off a turnover. Terrific play along the wall to spring McDavid and Bouchard for a Grade 'A' chance. Hammed a shot on net, the rebound from which Janmark slammed home for the 2-1. VASILY PODKOLZIN. 5. A hard play behind the net created a chance for Arvidsson in front. Nice pass to Arvidsson on Janmark's eventual 2-1 goal. Had six hits. BRETT KULAK. 5. A point shot rattled dangerously around the crease late in the second. Solid defensive play on Byfield behind his own goal line. Excellent stick disrupted a Kempe sortie deep into the third. HDSC 3-5 5v5. TY EMBERSON. 6. Heavy hit on Kopitar in the first. A couple clears on a first period PK. Two more clears on a third period kill. Seventy-seven percent on draws. Particularly good PK work on the night. ADAM HENRIQUE. 6. A backhand and then forehand chance point-blank in the first. Fed a pass over to Frederic on a 2-on-1 but no dice. EVANDER KANE. 7. Attempted bank shot his first shift. Another chance close in late in the opener. Ripped home a wrist shot which deflected high and in for the 1-1. Landed Kempe on his pants hallway through the second. Got a stick on a Hyman rebound and nearly snaked it home. Blocked shot late. Five shots, four hits. CONNOR BROWN. 5. Clear on the first period PK. Shorthanded 2-on-1 but could not find the insurance marker. DARNELL NURSE. 5. Took a second period trip on which the Kings scored the 1-0. Took a hooking minor in the third, too. HDSC's 7-5 5v5. Two shots, three blocks, four hits in 22:15. JOHN KLINGBERG. 7. Two tremendous plays with the puck early in the second frame, the second of which set up Kane fore the 1-1. High skill play beating Doughty off the wall. Solid defender stop on Fiala late in the second. Beat by Kempe a shift later. TRENR FREDERIC. 5. Early shot from the high slot which handcuffed Kuemper. Terrivic chance on a 2-on-1 late in the second but Kuemper got just enough of it to send the puck wide. Hard play on the wall in his own zone for a clear. MATTIAS JANMARK. 6. Roughing call in the first but his mates killed it off. Harf to the net and rewarded with a rebound off Kemper's blocker for the 2-1. Turned out to be the game winner. His second of these playoffs after scoring but two all regular season long. Three shots, two hits. COREY PERRY. 6. Chipped a pass from Draisaitl off the goalie's glove and wide on the PP in the first. Will see that gaping open net that he missed in the early second frame in his sleep tonight. Tooka nifty backhand move to the net halfway through the second. Terrific backhand pass to Leon for a chance. The series is now 3-2 Oilers. Game Six is Wednesday. Now on Bluesky @ Also, find me on Threads @kleavins, Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at KurtLeavins@ This article is not AI generated. STAPLES: Newcomer D-man bolsters Edmonton Oilers blueline LEAVINS: Ultimate edge that should give the Oilers the edge STAPLES: Miracle Oilers comeback evens LA series at two In memory of Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025. Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
Edmonton Journal
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers send Kings to brink of elimination with dominating 3-1 win in Game Five: Cult of Hockey Player Grades
Article content The Kings now teeter on the brink of elimination, as the Oilers come home to Rogers Place for a potential clinching Game Six. Here's the tale of the tape… CALVIN PICKARD. 7. Made his first save on the Power Play nine minutes in. Fought off a Doughty wrister through traffic in the opening frame. Two saves on Foegele to start the second, a toe stop and another up high. A high tip he had no chance on for the 1-0. Got just enough of a Kempe breakaway attempt to keep it 1-1. Looked very much like Byfield put his hand on the puck in the crease but there was no call. Nice glove grab on Kempe with 3:35 remaining. Another important save on Fiala late. Stopped twenty one of twenty-two. All he does is win! CONNOR McDAVID. 7. Absorbed eight hits in the first frame. A slick cross-ice pass to Bouchard who was stoned by Kemper in the first. Hard wrist shot forced Kuemper to squeeze a puck hard, keeping it 1-1. Great chance on a wrapround but it bounced inches wide. Neat feed up to Nugent-Hopkins at the attacking blueline with the 3-1 empty net goal. Seventy percent CF V5v5.
The National
27-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Lack of data on muirburn amid wildfires labelled ‘national scandal'
Environmental campaigner Nick Kempe said there had been 'a conspiracy of silence by government' about the amount and 'the number of wildfires this caused'. 'The lack of data on this is a national scandal,' he said. Muirburning is the controlled burning of moorland vegetation with the aim of promoting new growth of heather and grasses for grouse and grazing by sheep. Organisations representing landowners, gamekeepers and farmers claim it reduces the risk of wildfires but this is disputed by those who want it banned. Kempe said the claim that muirburn could prevent wildfires is being widely accepted by government agencies, mainly because the Scottish Fire and Rescue Services (SFRS) does not have the resources to investigate the cause of wildfires properly. 'It is claimed muirburn is a good thing because it reduces the fuel load and therefore, it is argued, the risks of wildfires getting out of control and causing serious damage,' he said. 'If that is correct, neither peatland, formed from dead vegetation, nor woodland could ever have developed in Scotland and there would be no hope of restoring nature. 'In fact, Scotland is a generally wet country and while summers are predicted to become drier due to global warming, periods of drought are still relatively rare and the damage done by wildfires relatively limited,' said Kempe of parkswatchscotland. 'The evidence of the past few weeks shows it would be even less if we banned muirburn completely and made it a criminal offence for anyone to light a fire outdoors when SFRS warnings are in place.' Kempe's onslaught comes after a number of farmer, landowner and gamekeeper associations raised concerns over a new system being introduced under the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024. The Scottish Government plans to implement a new muirburn licensing regime ahead of the 2025-2026 season but rural stakeholders say there's not enough time to gain a licence. Kempe is also concerned about the changes, which will replace the current voluntary Muirburn Code, as he believes they are too lax. The proposals in NatureScot's consultation include removing any reference to maximum wind speeds and removing warnings about the danger of burning on steep slopes. He has been arguing for a complete ban on the practice after spotting several areas of muirburn getting out of control, including within Cairngorms National Park, during the recent dry spell when the SFRS warned the public about the dangers of wildfire. 'While I would encourage anyone concerned about wildfire to respond to NatureScot's consultation on the Muirburn Code urging them to strengthen it rather than weaken it as they propose, muirburn licensing was never going to address the real problem,' Kempe said. 'We need to ban muirburn completely – creating fire breaks to limit wildfires is a completely different issue and does not need to start with fire. 'Sporting estates – which exist to provide private pleasure to those who enjoy killing other creatures rather than value nature – will never voluntarily act in the public interest or abide by any code if it's not in their interests to do so.' He said the Scottish Government should go even further and start to use its powers to compulsorily purchase sporting estates which have proved themselves incapable of managing the land responsibly. 'A good place to start would be all those estates that have carried on with muirburn in national parks and other protected areas despite the warnings of high risk from the SFRS,' he said. 'Instead of listening to landowning interests, the Scottish Government should look to Norway, a country whose climate and vegetation resembles ours in many ways, and ask why that country is not burned to bits like much of Scotland.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'It is our intention to bring the new muirburn licensing scheme into effect prior to the 2025/26 muirburn season. The new licensing scheme will ensure muirburn is undertaken appropriately by trained individuals to minimise negative impacts on peatlands and other sensitive habitats. 'Muirburn has the potential to have a positive impact on our environment, creating beneficial habitats for certain species and in creating firebreaks to help tackle wildfires.' A spokesperson for NatureScot said: 'We have been clear that in times of high and extreme fire danger, it is vitally important that the current Muirburn Code is followed in relation to where and when it is appropriate to burn – this includes taking account of the weather, vegetation conditions and nesting birds and only burning when it is safe to do so. 'A licensing scheme for muirburn and the associated new Muirburn Code are being introduced to help ensure that muirburn is carried out safely, appropriately and by trained operators. NatureScot has been working closely with the Muirburn Code Working Group to ensure both are robust and workable. 'Both the licensing scheme and the code are still in development, and we will continue to engage with all stakeholders as this progresses. This includes through the ongoing consultation on the new code.' Michael Humphreys, national wildfire lead for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'Land managers play a critical role in safeguarding communities from the devastating impacts of wildfires. 'Current evidence does not suggest muirburn causes wildfires. In fact, muirburn season ends on April 15 each year and we continue to see wildfires into June. 'Muirburn requires planning, skill and experience and land managers are always urged to follow the code that is in place to prevent damaging habitats, wildfire, and the wider environment. 'The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's wildfire strategy was launched in 2023 and is supported by a planned spend of around £1.6 million over the course of three years. 'The service continues to invest in its wildfire strategy, having recently created 14 wildfire tactical adviser roles across Scotland.'
Global News
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Oilers score 4 goals in third period to beat Kings 7-4, trail series 2-1
Evan Bouchard and Connor Brown each had a pair of goals as the Edmonton Oilers finally showed signs of life, coming away with a wild 7-4 playoff victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday. 'I think Game 1, we had some trouble kind of creating some chemistry, with just kind of a new look in our lineup with so many injuries down the stretch,' Brown said after the win. 'It's kind of the cards we we're dealt. But I really thought that we had a great process today. I thought we did a lot of things to control the play and some big goals at some key moments. It was a good win and I think we'll only get better.' Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evander Kane and Connor McDavid also scored for the Oilers, who had allowed 12 goals in their first two post-season losses in Los Angeles and trailed 4-3 with just under seven minutes to play. Story continues below advertisement 'I was telling the players after the game how impressed I was,' Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said. 'And it reminded me of last year; we're down with about seven minutes left, in almost a must-win game and the composure on the bench — they stuck with it and kept on pushing. A lot of credit to them, sticking with it, because there was definitely a time to hit the panic button, but they didn't.' Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, Drew Doughty and Trevor Moore replied for the Kings, who still lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Goaltender Calvin Pickard, who replaced Stuart Skinner in the Edmonton net for Game 3, made 25 saves to record the win. Darcy Kuemper stopped 29 shots in the loss for the Kings. Edmonton started the scoring less than three minutes into the opening period as Zach Hyman spun around behind the net and sent it in front to Nugent-Hopkins and he made the most of being elevated to the top line by scoring his first goal of the series. The Oilers made it 2-0 just 8:43 into the first frame, scoring three seconds into a power play as Bouchard unloaded a rocket that beat Kuemper to the top corner for his initial goal and Edmonton's first on the man advantage after being unsuccessful in the first two contests. Story continues below advertisement The Kings rallied to make it 2-1 playing four-on-four with 2:42 left in the first as Kempe kept up his torrid post-season pace with his fourth goal, making a perfect shot high to the glove side to beat Pickard. Los Angeles tied it on the power play 5:43 into the second period as Fiala picked the top corner for his second of the series. Kempe picked up an assist to give him nine points in the first three games. The Kings scored another power-play marker with 4:53 remaining in the middle period as Doughty scored his first on a shot from the point, L.A.'s seventh goal on 12 power-play opportunities. Edmonton tied the game with 2:41 to play in the second as Kane sent a backhand in front and Brown redirected it home, but the Kings responded just nine seconds later on a bad goal as Moore fought off a defender and poked a soft shot through Pickard's legs to make it 4-3 and deflate the Oilers. The Oilers tied it 4-4 with 6:42 remaining in the third after a big scramble in front, as Kane was able to poke it in. It originally looked like Kane may have kicked it in, but a video review determined he then got his stick on it and it was a good goal. The Kings then unsuccessfully challenged for goaltender interference. That would prove costly as the Oilers scored just 10 seconds into the resulting power play as Leon Draisaitl made a perfect pass to Bouchard on a give-and-go for the tip-in and the 5-4 lead. Story continues below advertisement 'Staying with it was great,' Draisaitl said. 'You've got to have some of that against that group over there. I thought we did a good job of just sticking with it and waiting for our chance.' Edmonton put the game away with a pair of empty-net goals from McDavid and Brown. 'Big win for our group,' Kane said. 'Hopefully it gave us some momentum going into Game 4 and a chance to hold serve on home ice.' NOTES It is the fourth straight year that the two teams have met in the first round of the playoffs, with Edmonton winning in seven games in 2022, six games in 2023 and five games in 2024. … Edmonton has only come back from a 2-0 series deficit once in team history, coming back to beat the San Jose Sharks in six games in the second round in 2006. UP NEXT Game 4 takes place on Sunday in Edmonton.
New York Times
25-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Deadline acquisition Andrei Kuzmenko is the spark on Kings' offense in first playoffs
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Shooting stars burn bright and often burn out but they're a wonder to see. And when you look at Andrei Kuzmenko's history since coming to the NHL, it is possible his marvelous play for the Los Angeles Kings since his arrival may dim and fade to black at some point. Time will tell, just as it did in his prior stops with the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames. Five weeks with the Philadelphia Flyers wasn't long enough to tell either way. But the Kings have managed to latch onto a comet blazing through their atmosphere for a wild ride that's continued into the Stanley Cup playoffs. Advertisement The Kings have a 2-0 lead over the Edmonton Oilers and Kuzmenko has been a factor in each of his first two NHL playoff games. But it's just been a continuation of what he was already doing. Ever since they acquired him from the Flyers at the trade deadline, Kuzmenko has given them exactly what they needed — a creative offensive winger who lit a fuse to their often-dormant power play and could mesh with longtime stalwarts Anže Kopitar and Adrian Kempe on their top line. In a 6-5 Game 1 victory, Kuzmenko got the Kings going with a perfect power-play tap-in off a hard pass from Kevin Fiala and assisted on goals by Kempe and Fiala for a three-point night in an auspicious playoff debut. In a 6-2 Game 2 rout Wednesday, the 29-year-old Russian drew a penalty on Edmonton's Trent Frederic and scored a rebound goal at the net on the ensuing power play. He also assisted on another Kempe goal. In all, Kuzmenko has five points for a Kings club that has scored the most goals (12) of any team after its first two games. 'Not surprised because that's how he played in the regular season,' Kings coach Jim Hiller said. 'First NHL playoff game, you never know what to expect. He's an older player, so he's got that on his side. But I thought he performed like he has since the trade, done it for us. 'You just got to give him a lot of respect, man. He's really, really done a job. And he had a tough go for a while. He gathered himself. Just really happy for him.' Hiller repeated that last line. And that's been a reciprocal feeling between Kuzmenko and the third team he's been with in this inexplicable season. He produced only four goals in 37 games with the Flames and then served as a contract take-back for the Flyers in trading away Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee, playing just seven games before a second trade and career rejuvenation with the Kings. Advertisement With the Kings, Kuzmenko went scoreless in his first seven games. They didn't worry. The signs of potent impact were apparent immediately. His know-how in the offensive zone kept plays alive and resulted in goals even if he didn't get on the stat sheet — and then he began to score. Goals in back-to-back 7-2 blowouts of Carolina and Boston were the ignition. He finished the regular season with five goals and 12 assists in his last 15 games. 'He's been good for us since Day 1,' Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov said. 'Made a huge impact, I would say. That's good. He'd been asking me how it was going to be like in a Game 1 or just the playoffs. Just told him (to) do your thing and just be ready physically and mentally. That's about it. I think he showed up prepared to play.' Kings general manager Rob Blake got Kuzmenko for a third-round draft pick in 2027 while getting the Flyers to retain half of his $5.5 million salary cap hit on an expiring contract. Blake, who's been on a winning run since swapping Pierre-Luc Dubois for starting goalie Darcy Kuemper, is getting the kind of value from Kuzmenko that would usually require surrendering a first-round selection. At the time, it looked like a low-risk bet on a mercurial forward who's had spells of brilliance mixed in with baffling stretches of meager offense. Instead, a team desperately looking to finally get over on the Oilers after three fruitless tries caught lightning in a bottle. Here's the running total of the Kings with Kuzmenko (including the playoffs): 19 wins in 24 games, 3.88 goals per game and a power play that's firing at 27.3 percent. 'He's been a really good addition for us right since he got here,' said Kopitar, who had a goal and three assists in Game 2. 'We're going to need him to play like that going forward and keep making plays. Making sure that he and us, as a line, are responsible. Keep being productive.' Advertisement Bruce Boudreau knows what it's like to get the most out of Kuzmenko. In his first NHL season after starring for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, Kuzmenko played for Boudreau in Vancouver and popped for 39 goals and 74 points for the Canucks. But when Boudreau lost his job and Rick Tocchet replaced him as coach the next season, Kuzmenko was no longer a fit and he was traded to Calgary after producing only eight goals and 21 points in 43 games. Watching what he's doing with Los Angeles, Boudreau said he's more surprised that Kuzmenko didn't continue to flourish with the Canucks or keep up what he did with the Flames to end last season. But he's identified what has made him tick again. 'I think what Hiller has done is he's made him an important piece of the puzzle again,' Boudreau said. 'If you understand … the guys that played in the KHL, when they come over here, they're stars (in that league). They're loved. And if you all of a sudden just try to make them third- and fourth-line players that aren't important, they don't feel important. And I don't think you get as much out of them. 'I told him he was an important piece of the puzzle. I had to sit him out a couple times because they don't check very well a lot of the time. But if you made him feel important — first power play, putting with the best center, tell him you need him — I think he's thriving in that and (that's) what he's doing in L.A.' It doesn't hurt that Kuzmenko has an infectious personality that endears him to those around him. He's often in the ear of Kempe or Kopitar when they're together on the Kings' bench. His beaming smile is contagious after goals or in their dressing room. He's a willing participant in a group interview session, kindly asking media members to simplify their English so he can better understand questions and best convey his answers in a foreign language. Boudreau remembers when he arrived in Vancouver. Kuzmenko was part of a team event with local children, and it was hard to tell who was having more fun. 'You can see a personality here that is really large,' the former NHL coach said. 'And he wants to be that guy.' Because of his buoyant nature, his teammates make plenty of time for him. Advertisement 'He's kind of a hockey nerd, too,' forward Warren Foegele said. 'Brings a great personality to this group. Super dynamic and he just loves hockey. He's talking about different plays. That energy, I think we're all feeding off.' What does he talk about on the bench? 'I want to understand the next move,' Kuzmenko said. 'It's a little bit better for future, for a good moment for a score or passes for a great chance. I love to speak to my partners. I don't know, probably (talk) too much and maybe more speak because Kopi says, 'Yeah, yeah, Kuzy. Yeah, yeah. This moment I understand. OK, Kuzy, a little bit slow. Too much information.' Because the first 10 games, probably every shift I watch on the iPod. I want this play. This my move. Listen to me. And what do you think, Juice? What do you want? 'It's so important moment to me because I need to understand what's in the future. A future Juice moment. A future Kopi moment. It's a little bit key for the game, for success.' Just don't ask if he watches hockey away from the rink. 'I just work,' he said, sheepishly. 'This is my work.' 'I watch my game,' Kuzmenko continued. 'I never watch the playoffs. I never watch the game in the NHL. But I have one time in my three years. I watched four games when I await visa to go to the U.S. Every day. Because I can't practice. On my trade to Philadelphia, I watch probably seven, eight games. But just one time in my life. That's it.' In fact, the player Kuzmenko singles out as the one he particularly admires is not a usual Russian hero like Sergei Fedorov or Alex Ovechkin, but Alexander Radulov, the former NHL forward who most notably played for the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars. But that's part of what makes Kuzmenko unique. Gavrikov, who has known him through their time together on the national team and as KHL opponents, said the winger is always trying to bring something new to the game. Advertisement 'He seems involved,' the Kings blueliner said. 'That's all that matters. And he's giving us the best effort he can.' 'I have a good energy,' Kuzmenko said. 'I need to give it to my teams and everybody give back to me, that energy. It's a good connection for everybody. I like it.' It's been a mesmerizing journey. Four teams in three years. Five coaches, and while he has a special affinity for Boudreau and feels valued by Hiller, Kuzmenko insists each has helped shape him and what he needs to do to last much longer in the league. The future might be uncertain, but the Kings need him now and they're reaping the benefits of his energetic vibe and high-wattage play. 'He's feeling important so he's doing more,' Boudreau said. 'He wants to be a big fish in a small pond, or even a big fish in a big pond. He loves that. You can see it. If you put him on the third line and make him play 13 minutes a game, you're going to get that kind of player. In L.A., they seem to rely on him and he's loving every second of it.'
