Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings

Artemi Panarin scores, LA Kings shut down Oilers 1-0 to boost their playoff chances

Artemi Panarin scored on a first-period breakaway in the regular-season home finale for the Kings (34-26-19), who won their fourth straight game in the race for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Los Angeles is also just two points behind Vegas and Anaheim for third place in the Pacific Division.

Forsberg earned his 11th career shutout while LA throttled the high-powered Oilers, who have knocked the Kings out of the playoffs in each of the past four postseasons. They also shut down NHL scoring leader Connor McDavid, who was left visibly frustrated after being called for two minor penalties, including a key holding call with 5:33 to play.

Connor Ingram stopped 19 shots for the first-place Oilers, who failed to get the one point necessary to clinch a playoff spot. Edmonton still secured its seventh consecutive trip to the postseason later Saturday when Winnipeg lost to Philadelphia.

The Oilers' loss provided Vegas and Anaheim with the opportunity this weekend to leapfrog the two-time defending conference champions for the top spot in the Pacific Division. The Golden Knights face Colorado on Saturday night and the Ducks host Vancouver on Sunday.

Edmonton played without injured forward Jason Dickinson and lost forward Max Jones to an undisclosed injury during the game.

Forsberg might have unseated Darcy Kuemper as the Kings’ first-choice goalie for the postseason after yet another strong performance down the stretch combined with Kuemper’s noticeable struggles since returning from the Olympics.

The game could have been the last at home for Anze Kopitar, although the victory makes that much less likely. Fans still serenaded Kopitar with chants of “Kopi! Kopi!” after the final horn.

Kopitar took the microphone and teared up while he thanked the fans, saying: “We’re going to do our absolute best to come home for a couple more games in the playoffs, that’s for sure.”

Panarin did all of the scoring in the first period by stripping the puck from Evan Bouchard at the Kings' blue line and skating away for a top-corner score. Panarin has 26 points in 23 games since joining the Kings in a trade with the Rangers, including nine goals.

Up next Oilers: Host Colorado on Monday.

Kings: At Seattle on Monday.

LA wins series 2-1