The Edmonton Oilers are on their method to the Western Convention Closing for the second yr in a row after beating the Vegas Golden Knights, 1-0, on Wednesday night time. It was an unlikely hero who despatched them via in extra time.
Ahead Kasperi Kapanen scored the sport’s solely purpose, knocking in a free puck proper on the doorstep throughout a mad scramble across the Vegas internet.
While you consider the Oilers and offense, your thoughts in all probability instantly goes to superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. However generally to win within the playoffs, you want an unlikely supply to step up in massive conditions.
That’s what occurred right here.
Kapanen joined the Oilers early within the season after beginning it with the St. Louis Blues, and he scored simply 5 objectives in 57 common -season video games with the Oilers.
Getting into play on Wednesday, he had solely appeared in one of many Oilers’ playoff video games.
Now right here he’s scoring certainly one of their greatest objectives of the season.
Goalie Stuart Skinner additionally emerged over the previous couple of video games as an unlikely hero, posting back-to-back shutouts. Skinner opened the playoffs as Edmonton’s starter, however he was rapidly benched after a depressing begin to its first-round sequence towards the Los Angeles Kings. However when Calvin Pickard exited the playoffs with an damage, it opened the door for Skinner to once more show himself.
Whereas it has been rocky at occasions, he has undoubtedly come via when the Oilers wanted him. Edmonton will now await the winner of the Winnipeg Jets-Dallas Stars sequence.
