Kings shut out Oilers in Hiller's debut as coach

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Kings won their first game under interim coach Jim Hiller, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 4-0 at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.

Hiller was coaching in his first NHL game after replacing Todd McLellan on Feb. 2.

“We’ve had a tough stretch, so we’re just trying to get back to where we were,” Hiller said. “This isn’t about necessarily [doing anything] new. It’s just getting back there, and tonight was a good step.”

Quinton Byfield had two goals and an assist, and David Rittich made 26 saves for his fifth NHL shutout for the Kings (24-15-10), who were playing their first game since Jan. 31.

“Jimmy came in here, he’s only had two practices with us, but he showed great leadership as a coach,” Byfield said. “As you saw out there, we’re playing for each other.”

Stuart Skinner made 22 saves for the Oilers (30-17-1), who went 1-2-0 on a three-game road trip after winning 16 straight prior to the All-Star break.

“I thought against Vegas we played solid (a 3-1 loss on Tuesday), last night we battled (a 5-3 win at the Anaheim Ducks),” Edmonton forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. “We have to find it again, no excuses, and we have to get the second half rolling.”

Pierre-Luc Dubois put the Kings up 1-0 at 2:38 of the second period, scoring with a wrist shot from the right circle on the power play.

Dubois, who had six points (three goals, three assists) in 15 games in January, when the Kings went 3-7-5, acknowledged that he had not been contributing enough in order to help turn things around.

“The coaching staff here, first day I got back, they challenged me to be a better player out there and to be a difference-maker,” Dubois said. “That can come scoring goals, assists, but it could also come from hits, drawing penalties, all of the things that not everybody notices."

Trevor Lewis scored 49 seconds later to make it 2-0. He finished a pass from Byfield in the right circle on a 2-on-1.

Byfield then gave Los Angeles a 3-0 lead at 7:06 of the third period, putting in the rebound of Vladislav Gavrikov's initial shot from the bottom left circle with Edmonton defenseman Vincent Desharnais screening Skinner.

“I think every night I just try to go out there, work as hard as I can, be effective any which way I can,” Byfield said. “Points come, they come, but the most important thing is wins.”

Byfield scored an empty-net goal at 17:18 for the 4-0 final. He has eight points (four goals, four assists) during a five-game point streak.  

“It’s all about confidence,” Byfield said. “It’s been building the whole year. When you got it going, you kind of know you’ve got it going, and it feels nice. Just being able to be patient, see plays with the puck and be able to know I can make those plays is important for me.”

The Oilers were shutout for the second time this season (they lost 3-0 to the New York Rangers on Oct. 26). They were 0-for-4 on the power play, generating just six shots on goal.

“This was probably one of those games that we were finding ways to win during this streak, and tonight there just wasn't enough,” Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said. “A lot of credit to L.A. Their goaltender played really well.”

NOTES: Oilers forward Evander Kane played his 900th NHL game. … Kings assistant coach D.J. Smith was not behind the bench with his work visa still being finalized.