THN.com/podcast. From THN On The 'Dub': NHL Draft Prospect Nico Myatovic Talks WHL Playoffs Kailer Yamamoto celebrates his game-winning, series-clinching goal on Saturday night. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk3NjE3MTY2NzIyMjc5MjE4/usatsi_20568376.jpg] Kailer Yamamoto celebrates his game-winning, series-clinching goal on Saturday night. It was dramatic once again, but the Edmonton Oilers are moving on. After six games filled with special teams prowess, production from all areas, and a little controversy, Edmonton punched their ticket to the second round by defeating the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 on Saturday night. A late game-winning goal from Kailer Yamamoto secured the 4-2 series win. The Oilers and Kings came into the playoffs with improved rosters, and the series was as close as could be for most of it. Only two games were decided by more than one goal, with Games 1, 3, and 4 needing an extra period to decide things. Leon Draisaitl showed once again why he's one of the most dynamic players in the game and a Hart Trophy winner. He went off for 11 points in the series, with his seven goals currently leading the NHL in playoff goal-scoring. The Kings had few answers for Draisaitl's one-timers on the power play. Connor McDavid also heated up after no points in Game 1, putting up 10 in the next five matches, including six power-play points. Speaking of the power play, after a historic regular season, it continued right where it left off in the post-season. Edmonton is tied for the league lead in power-play goals with nine and has the best percentage on the man advantage, operating at an eye-popping 56.3 percent. This series was also defined by the non-McDavid and Draisaitl players that helped secure this series. Ten different Oilers scored in the opening round, with just one skater on the roster (Philip Broberg) not recording a point in the series. Klim Kostin, the depth forward who became a cult hero during his short time in Edmonton, had the game-winning goal in Game 2 for the Oilers. In Game 6, Klostin also scored twice and assisted on Kailer Yamamoto's game-winning goal with just 3:03 left in the third period. Nick Bjugstad's two goals and Brett Kulak's marker in Game 5, along with Derek Ryan's opening goal in Game 2, were among other offensive contributions. It was only fitting that the goal to push Edmonton also came from someone not wearing the Nos. 97 or 29. In a year of ups and downs for Yamamoto's play, it had to feel like a 1,000-pound weight came off his shoulders after getting that wrist shot through traffic to beat Joonas Korpisalo with overtime looming. With Los Angeles now in the rearview mirror for the Oilers, things shift to the Vegas Golden Knights, a series long awaited by many in the hockey world. The Oilers may be 3-0-1 this season against the Pacific Division champs, but the Golden Knights are still one of the more dangerous teams in the Western Conference. Vegas is coming off a five-game series win over the Winnipeg Jets. Chandler Stephenson and the healthy Mark Stone powered the Knights' offensive production with eight points each. Laurent Bronsoit also took over the reins in the net for Vegas in the first round. Even with the chants suggesting he's only a former Jets backup in the eyes of Winnipeg fans, he's quite capable of being the No. 1 option in the net for the Golden Knights, putting up a .915 save percentage and making key saves throughout the series. After an exciting first round in the books for the Oilers, their first post-season series against the Golden Knights surely will provide even more fireworks.
