The Edmonton Oilers had the chance to close out the Vegas Golden Knights in five games on Wednesday, and it took until the 7:19 mark of the overtime period for our boys to accomplish that goal. Thanks to a greasy one by Kasperi Kapanen, the Oilers improved their record in series-clinching games to 9-2 after outlasting Vegas en route to a 1-o OT win.

Don’t you love sports? After getting yanked in Game 2 against Los Angeles, Stuart Skinner had to wait six games before getting another opportunity to play, and the effort he put down over the last two nights was simply remarkable. Getting back-to-back shutouts is the kind of goaltending you dream about in the playoffs, and to have Skinner do exactly that with so many people doubting him is a fantastic story no matter how you slice it. It’s the kind of SIUTBOHC performance that we all needed. Not only did the Oilers need Skinner to be perfect to lock in that win, but everyone who cheers for the franchise also needed it to know that we’re in good hands, no matter who is in net.

If we’re being honest with ourselves, there were plenty of fans who thought the series was pooched when Calvin Pickard went down. It was as if some folks didn’t expect Stu to bounce back after the tough outings he’d had against Los Angeles, but I’d also suggest we remember how poorly the team played in front of him. I’m not trying to make excuses for what happened, but it’s also not surprising to see Skinner play better when his teammates are defending well. Even so, putting down back-to-back shutouts to close out the series is getting the job done at another level entirely. But then again, I don’t even know why we’re surprised. These eight playoff wins have come as a result of everyone chipping in with clutch performances at key moments, so why couldn’t Stu be a guy who could give us the same?

After going nine games as a healthy scratch to start these playoffs, Kasperi Kapanen wasted no time in making his mark once given a spot in the lineup. In Game 4, Kapanen was a human wrecking ball on the second line with Leon Draisaitl, finishing the game with five hits and plenty of highlights worthy of another chance to play. While he was quieter in Game 5 with Vegas checking as tightly as they were, it was Kasperi Kapanen who was the hero when he scored a greasy one from his knees at 7:19 of the bonus period, eliminating the Vegas Golden Knights with a 1-0 win.

Before last night’s game-winner, Kapanen hadn’t scored a goal since January 23rd when he popped one against the Vancouver Canucks. In case you were wondering, that was a stretch of 33 games without a goal, but that drought couldn’t matter less after the guy picked up one of the biggest goals of his career. That’s not too bad for a waiver claim that no one expected to see much, if any, game action in the postseason. And while a lot of people probably picked a McDavid or Draisaitl-type to end the night, it was the Oilers’ depth that came through in the clutch. It’s been happening all playoffs, so why not have Kapanen cash one in OT for the series-winner? It just makes sense with how these first two rounds have gone.

Since making the playoffs in 2017, the Edmonton Oilers were 8-2 heading into games when they had the opportunity to close out a series, and they improved that record with a wild win at T-Mobile Arena. And after handily dusting off the Golden Knights in Game 4, the Oilers went back to T-Mobile Arena with a chance to send their division rivals to the tee box early, provided they could continue their lethal run as closers. Of course, we knew Vegas’ game would be ripe with urgency as they looked to stay alive, but it wouldn’t matter if Edmonton could stick to their game plan and continue to get contributions from throughout the lineup.

As the game progressed, it seemed inevitable that the game would go into overtime. Both sides were playing tight defensive hockey, the puck was bouncing all over the place, scoring chances were limited, and both goalies were dialled in, which made the whole night feel like it was always going to be a one-goal game. In the intermission between the third period and overtime, I was chatting with Zach Laing outside of Greta about how it was going to take an ugly one to win this game, which is precisely what happened. Nurse got the puck to the net, and it was a yard sale in the crease before Kapanen was finally able to muscle the puck over the line. Greasy goals make the world go around in the playoffs, and we got yet another example with the GWG in Game 5.

1. Revenge for what happened two years ago, and we’re off to the Western Conference Final for the third time in the last four years. Beautiful.

2. Of all the issues I could have imagined the Oilers could have during this playoff run, going 0-14 on the power play on the road wouldn’t have been one of them. Sure, you could argue the PP hasn’t been the same all season, but to not get a sniff through six road playoff games is a problem that needs a solution. As much as we all love the even strength scoring, it sure would be nice if the PP could make life a little easier from time to time. On the bright side, the PK killed off the lone Vegas opportunity they had with the man advantage, so it wasn’t all bad for the special teams.

3. The Oilers’ breakout was sloppy, wasn’t it? There were missed passes everywhere and no support deep in the zone, leaving very few options for the d-men to pass to. The mission seemed to be finding a winger at the far blue line and hitting them with a bank pass off the boards, but they never seemed to adjust when the strategy stopped working.

4. The NHL boxscore had the Oilers with 21 blocked shots, and I’d like to thank all of our boys for willingly throwing their bodies in front of pucks. Kris Russell would be proud. That’s cowboy behaviour, my friends.

5. I would like to go on record and say how bad the Golden Knights’ home jerseys are. Colours are awful.

6. Unfortunately, I must report that the Oilers won only 46.9% of the faceoffs. Can’t win ’em all, I suppose.

We’re beyond excited to announce our latest partnership with Odd Company Brewing to bring you the all-new Nation Beer Everyday Lager! Whether you’re watching the big game, chilling with friends, or just kicking back after a long day, this crisp, refreshing lager is the perfect choice. It’s the brew you can count on anytime, anywhere. So, why not make it your next game-day tradition? Nation Beer Everyday Lager is available now at Odd Company Brewing and through Liquor Connect. Don’t miss out—grab yours today and take your beer game to the next level! Cheers, Nation Citizens!