Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse was handed a five-minute major and game misconduct for cross-checking Kings forward Quinton Byfield in the head during the second period.
Amid a scrum in front of goalie Calvin Pickard with the Oilers killing a five-on-three, Nurse appeared to slam Byfield down to the ice before cross-checking him near the back of his head.
Byfield remained down on the ice for a few moments, but slowly got up and skated off. He was put in concussion protocol during the second intermission.
Referees called the major and misconduct on the ice, and confirmed both upon review.
The way the Oilers played in the game seemingly caught the attention of Kings forward Phillip Danault, who didn’t hold back during an interview between the second and third periods.
“I think they just have their B squad in trying to hurt us,” Danault told Kings reporter Patrick O’Neal.
It’s a notion that Oilers forward Corey Perry dismissed after the game.
“What do you want us do?” Perry told reporters. “Have you not looked at what’s happening to us the past couple of weeks?… We’re not out there to hurt anybody.”
Nurse’s ejection meant the Oilers were forced to complete the game with just five defencemen. The team already dressed one forward short due to a long list of injuries, including Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
The game between the two teams who will meet for a fourth straight first-round playoff series was chippy, with a combined 69 minutes of penalties called by officials.
Los Angeles went on to win 5-0.
The Oilers’ final regular-season game comes Wednesday on the road against the San Jose Sharks.