Mike Smith of Kingston, Ontario recorded his sixth career National Hockey League playoff shutout on Saturday. The 40-year-old netminder backstopped the Edmonton Oilers to a 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings to win the Western Conference quarterfinal series four games to three on Saturday night from Rogers Place in Edmonton.
In game seven, Smith made 25 saves. He made seven saves in the first period, 11 saves in the second period, and 11 saves in the third period. Offensively, the Oilers got goals from Cody Ceci of Ottawa, Ontario, and Connor McDavid of Richmond Hill, Ontario. Ceci’s game-winning goal was in the second period from McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at 13:15 of the middle frame, and was his second career playoff goal. Ceci’s first postseason goal was with the Toronto Maple Leafs. McDavid meanwhile scored a sensational, highlight reel marker where he stickhandled the puck behind the Kings net, came out, and scored on a backhander to beat Kings’ goaltender Jonathan Quick.
This was Smith’s second shutout of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He previously blanked the Kings in game two of the series 6-0 last Wednesday. Three of Smith’s prior shutouts were with the Phoenix Coyotes and another with the Calgary Flames. This was only the Oilers’ second playoff series win since reaching the 2006 Stanley Cup Final.
