Sports

Kings rally to take lead, only to collapse in third period of Game 3 loss to Oilers

Published

3 weeks ago

April 26, 2025

Kings rally to take lead, only to collapse in third period of Game 3 loss to Oilers

EDMONTON, Canada — The Edmonton Oilers played like they couldn’t afford to lose Friday. And they didn’t, scoring two goals 10 seconds apart late in the third period to beat the Kings 7-4 in a wild first-round playoff game in which both teams overcame deficits.

The Kings still lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Sunday in Edmonton. But the Oilers’ win means the series will return to Los Angeles for Game 5 on Tuesday.

Evan Bouchard and Connor Brown both had two goals for Edmonton, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor McDavid and Evander Kane also scored.

McDavid’s goal and Brown’s second goal were empty-netters after Bouchard scored on a power play to put Edmonton ahead with 6:32 remaining. Edmonton scored four unanswered goals in the final seven minutes.

The Kings’ goals came from Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, Drew Doughty and Trevor Moore, with two coming on the power play.

But the game turned on a decision by Kings coach Jim Hiller to challenge Kane’s tying goal in the third. The unsuccessful challenge gave the Oilers a power play, leading to Bouchard scoring what proved to be the winning goal.

“We understand the situation,” Hiller said. “But clearly we felt that that challenge was in our favor. The next step would have been for us to kill a penalty. That didn’t happen either.

“So it’s a tough stretch for us, no question. That’s hockey. That’s playoff hockey.”

The Oilers, desperate to get back in the series, benched goalie Stuart Skinner, who gave up 11 goals in the first two games, in favor of Calvin Pickard. But Pickard hardly fared better, giving up four goals on 28 shots.

Highlights from the Kings’ 7-4 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 on Friday.

Still, Edmonton played with urgency, taking its first lead of the series less than three minutes in when an unguarded Nugent-Hopkins took a Zach Hyman pass directly in front of the net and pushed the puck under Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper.

Bouchard doubled the lead six minutes later, firing a slap shot past Kuemper from the top of the circle three seconds after the Kings’ Andrei Kuzmenko went off for interference. It was Edmonton’s first power-play goal in six tries in the series.

The Kings responded with three unanswered goals.

Kempe started the rally late in the first period, deflecting a left-handed shot off Pickard from the center of the right circle with the teams skating four on four. It was his fourth goal of the playoffs, matching Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy for the NHL lead.

More importantly, it took momentum away from the Oilers, allowing Fiala to even things early in the second period with a power-play goal from nearly the same spot. Doughty’s power-play goal less than five minutes before the second intermission then put the Kings in front for the first time.

The Kings were 0 for 12 with the man advantage in last season’s series loss to Edmonton, their third consecutive to the Oilers. This year against the same team, the Kings have converted seven of 12 power-play opportunities.

After Brown pulled Edmonton even again, Moore scored nine seconds later when he drove to the net and poked the puck past Pickard.

Things got really wild in the third period, with the Oilers scoring four goals in less than seven minutes. Edmonton also scored four goals in the third period of Game 1.

Kane tied the score again, scoring off a mad scramble in front of the net, then waiting several long minutes for a replay review to confirm he pushed the puck in with his stick, not his skate.

Hiller challenged the goal, arguing there was goaltender interference.

“We got a good look at it. We had plenty of time,” he said. “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It cost us big-time.”

Bouchard needed just 10 seconds to make the Kings pay, scoring Edmonton’s second power-play goal on a tip-in from Kuemper’s left. Kuemper made 29 saves.

“It sucks,” Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson said. “But again, I look at it, we’re still in a good place. You get to come back in two nights and get another stab at it, which is the best part.”

Sports

NBA great Shaquille O'Neal floats theory on Blue Origin flight

Published

2 hours ago

May 16, 2025

Press Room

NBA great Shaquille O'Neal floats theory on Blue Origin flight

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is weighing in on the recent Blue Origin space flight.

Blue Origin was founded by Amazon founder and Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos.

O’Neal mentioned the recent high-profile Blue Origin flight, which featured an all-female crew, during a recent discussion with comedian David Spade.

Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal attends the unveiling of the Shaq Courts at the Doolittle Complex donated by Icy Hot and the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation in partnership with the City of Las Vegas Oct. 23, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Icy Hot)

O’Neal, a four-time NBA champion, suggested the trip to space did not actually occur. O’Neal’s theory seemed to center around his belief that Bezos was never willing to send his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, into space.

BLUE ORIGIN LAUNCHES KATY PERRY, ALL-FEMALE CREW INTO SPACE, COMPLETES SAFE LANDING

Sanchez and singer Katy Perry, television personality Gayle King, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, film producer Kerianne Flynn and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen all took part in the trip.

This image provided by Blue Origin shows, from left: Jeff Bezos; Kerianne Flynn; Katy Perry; Lauren Sanchez; Aisha Bowe; Gayle King; Amanda Nguyen; Sarah Knights, director of Blue Origin’s astronaut office; and Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp. (Blue Origin via AP Images)

But O’Neal also pointed out what he believed were discrepancies within a video Blue Origin released. From the 51-year-old NBA analyst’s perspective, something in the recording appeared to be off.

“I know Jeff loves Laura. He wouldn’t want anything to happen to her,” O’Neal told Spade during a recent edition of the “The Big Podcast with Shaq.”

Shaquille O’Neal attends Shaq’s Fun House Big Game Weekend at Talking Stick Resort Feb 10, 2023, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

“So, I think there was some green screen involvement there. That’s one. No. 2, their hair was luxurious in space. Katy Perry’s hair didn’t move. Laura’s hair didn’t move. Nobody’s hair moved. Then I saw when they landed Jeff had the special key, but it was already open. So, I’m going to go Universal Studios green screen on this one.”

Fox News Digital contacted Blue Origin for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Several celebrities attended the event last month, including Oprah, a close friend of King’s. The mission spanned 10 minutes and 21 seconds.

Perry said the experience of going to space was “second to being a mom.”

“That’s why it was hard for me to go because that’s all my love right there. And I have to surrender and trust that the universe is going to take care of me, protect me and also my family and my daughter,” she said.

Fox News’ Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

Sports

Jackie Morales hits three home runs in Notre Dame's upset of Orange Lutheran

Published

3 hours ago

May 16, 2025

Press Room

Jackie Morales hits three home runs in Notre Dame's upset of Orange Lutheran

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High was supposed to be a year or two away from softball prominence with its collection of six talented freshmen.

Well, the Knights have already arrived after a 9-7 victory over Trinity League champion Orange Lutheran on Thursday in an opening game of the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs in which freshman Jackie Morales hit three home runs.

Notre Dame, the Mission League champion, was leading most of the game until Orange Lutheran scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 7-6 lead. Morales tied the score with a home run in the top of the seventh. Then the Knights scored two more runs on an RBI single from freshman Keira Luderer and an RBI single from junior Ellayne Tellez-Perez.

Orange Lutheran was the Division 1 runner-up last season. For Notre Dame to go on the road and win is quite an accomplishment for coach Justin Siegel and the Knights.

“Big players show up in big situations and Jackie Morales has been a big player for us all season,” Siegel said.

Huntington Beach 8, Charter Oak 7: The Oilers hung on for the Division 1 win. Tea Gutierrez and Maleah Humble each had three hits.

Sports

Reds fans celebrate Pete Rose after MLB's decision: 'He's our Babe Ruth'

Published

20 hours ago

May 15, 2025

Press Room

Reds fans celebrate Pete Rose after MLB's decision: 'He's our Babe Ruth'

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The Cincinnati Reds paid tribute to Pete Rose on Wednesday night – one day after Major League Baseball removed the all-time hits leader and others from the permanently ineligible list.

Reds fans packed the city en route to Great American Ballpark to watch the team celebrate one of the best players in the franchise’s history as he will get a chance to have a plaque in Cooperstown, New York, in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

A Pete Rose sculpture is shown during Pete Rose Night events before a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Chants of “Pete! Pete!” were heard throughout the park. The stadium held a pregame moment of silence and a choir from Rose’s high school in Cincinnati performed the national anthem. Fans wore Rose jerseys and highlights were shown on the video board throughout the game.

“It was awesome,” Pete Rose Jr. said of the ceremony, via MLB.com. “It’s home. These are all friends and family. I drove 15 minutes from home to get to the ballpark. I will drive 15 minutes back. I try to explain to people, they don’t really get the aspect of Dad being here. I try to tell them he’s our Babe Ruth. If you’re from here, he’s our Babe Ruth.”

He added that the family could not have asked “for a better night.”

Andrew Scheidt and his 1-year-old son, Matthew Scheidt, visit the bronze statue of former Cincinnati Reds player Pete Rose outside the Great American Ball Park on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Cincinnati before a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Pete Rose’s daughter, Fawn Rose, speaks as Reds Hall of Fame players, from left to right, George Foster, Barry Larkin and Eric Davis listen during Pete Rose Night events before a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Rose was placed on the ineligible list after the revelation that he gambled on the Reds to win – both as a player and a manager. After years of claiming innocence, Rose admitted to gambling in 2004. He also faced accusations of sexual misconduct in the years after he retired from the game.

MARINERS STAR JULIO RODRÍGUEZ ROBS YANKEES’ TRENT GRISHAM OF HOME RUN WITH SPECTACULAR CATCH

He lamented in his final interview that he would only get into the Hall of Fame after he died. It is a prophecy that took one step closer to reality on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, however, he was celebrated.

Cincinnati Reds owner Bob Castellini hugs Pete Rose’s daughter Fawn Rose as they meet on the field for Pete Rose Night events before a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

“My dad used to tell me all the stories of how hard he played every time,” Reds reliever Brent Suter said. “You know, never took a play off, always was running hard 90 (feet), sliding headfirst, you know, getting dirty every game. … This was a guy who just embodied toughness, grit.”

Reds manager Terry Francona also spoke of Rose. He was a teammate of Rose’s with Cincinnati and the Montreal Expos.

“He played baseball with as much passion and competitive enjoyment as you ever could,” he said. “You wanted to be on his team.”

Now, the debate begins over whether Rose should be in the Hall of Fame and whether it was right to keep him out for as long as baseball did.

Cincinnatio Reds fans stand during a Pete Rose Night event before a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

“I know I oversimplify things. But what Pete did as a player, if he’s not in, there is no Hall of Fame,” Francona said. “But I get it. There are some things that … I’m glad I don’t have to make (those) decisions.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.