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LOS ANGELES The first thing that came to Connor McDavids mind when the wonky goal went in on Saturday was Mike Smith, a long-range shot from Rasmus Andersson and how the Oilers pushed through.

The power of positive thinking has its advantages.

Last year in the playoffs, the Oilers overcame a potentially crushing third period when Smith let in Anderssons game-tying goal from inside the Calgary blue line. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins responded less than six minutes later to restore the Oilers Game 4 lead, a goal that stood as the winner.

On Saturday, a puckhandling miscue by Stuart Skinner in the third albeit because he was inadvertently playing with a broken stick allowed the Kings to tie Game 6.

This time it was winger Kailer Yamamoto who was the hero and bailed out a goalie scoring the goal that won the Oilers the series with a 5-4 victory.

I was having flashbacks to Game 4 against Calgary last year, McDavid said. Its good that weve been in that situation before where a weird one goes in when you feel like youre doing a lot of good things.

It feels funny that the games tied when you didnt do anything wrong.

The Oilers had a one-goal lead early in the third period of Game 6 against the Kings when they went on the power play, which had been converting at a near-automatic rate in the series. (It scored on nine of its 15 chances to that point.)

The puck was dumped right to Skinner, the start of what should have been a nothing play, when disaster struck.

As Skinner tried to make a pass to defenceman Evan Bouchard, his broken stick resulted in a weak attempt that dribbled to Kings centre Phillip Danault for a tap-in.

Just like that, the game was tied at 7:46 of the third period.

My first thought is I like it the hard way. I want to win the hard way, Skinner said. Being able to let go of that very quickly, make some saves and let the guys know that we can relax and its all going to be OK.

Yamamotos goal with 3:03 left in the third period made all right with the world for the Oilers.

I was proud of our team, Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said. We are sure of ourselves and wholly sure of what our opportunity is before us here.

We have an understanding that its not always going to be smooth sailing. Its OK that theres some drama in the story.

Skinner said he realized his stick was broken only when he went to play the puck.

Theres video evidence that a slash by Kings winger Adrian Kempe a couple minutes earlier caused the stick to break.

It was the most unfortunate result at one of the worst times imaginable.

Nobody did anything wrong, defenceman Mattias Ekholm said. Stuff happens. To me, its easier because you just move on. Its nobodys fault. Theres nobody to blame.

Thankfully for Skinner and the Oilers, Yamamoto who played for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings from 12 to 15 came to the rescue.

Yamamoto received the puck in the corner to the right of Kings goalie Joonas Korpisalo, before weaving his way to the top of the circle. There, he turned and fired.

His shot beat Korpisalo high to the blocker side. It was his first goal of the series.

Thank goodness it went in, Yamamoto said.

For his personal self-confidence, its important that he got that goal, Woodcroft said. That goal was a great goal important for our team.

Yamamoto will get a ton of recognition for his pivotal tally. But he made his presence felt in other ways. Demoted to the fourth line for Game 5, Yamamoto stepped up to have what was easily his best game of the series on Saturday.

Not only did the 5-foot-8, 153-pound forward score the winner, but he set up linemate Klim Kostin for a chance in front in the first period and assisted on Kostins second period goal.

Hes the little engine that could, Woodcroft said. You dont play in the National Hockey League at his size without having an unbelievable amount of determination and will.

Yamamoto wasnt the only depth player who excelled on Saturday.

Kostin was a force in the offensive zone and wound up with two goals and an assist on Yamamotos winner. Vincent Desharnais, who struggled mightily the last time these two teams played here in Game 4, had two helpers.

The superstars sure did their thing. McDavid opened the scoring and assisted on a power-play goal from Leon Draisaitl. But the Oilers dont win this knockout game without contributions from so many unheralded players.

Thats what the playoffs calls for, Ekholm said.

I think a lot of people look at the Oilers and think its a two- or three-man team, McDavid said. It couldnt be further from that at all.

It wouldnt be unfair to put Skinner in that mix, too.

Skinner sure didnt have his best game on Saturday. A long shot from Sean Durzi beat him in the first period. Kevin Fialas second-period power-play goal went by him without a screen. And then there was the Danault gift.

Still, he made 40 saves.

Sure, it wasnt exactly a banner series for Skinner. He was pulled in Game 4 after allowing three goals on 11 shots. His job was in question after backup Jack Campbell led the team to victory.

He allowed 19 goals in the series including two in overtime and that last bizarre one and finished it with an .890 save percentage.

Yet Skinner became the first Oilers rookie netminder to win a postseason matchup since Andy Moog helped the Oilers to an upset best-of-five sweep of the Canadiens in the 1981 opening round.

In the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs here and my first time around, I feel like Ive gone through quite a bit here, Skinner said. Thats all part of life. Thats all part of the lessons that I get to learn.

Im very grateful for those lessons.

It sure helps when those lessons influenced a series victory.

McDavid gave Skinner a big hug in the dressing room after the game before jokingly offering a piece of advice.

He told me next time I should check my stick, Skinner said, chuckling.

Its one of those moments that can be laughed about now.

After all, crisis was averted just like a year ago.

To discover is superior to being told, Woodcroft said. Sometimes you have to go through something like this to see what youre made of.

The Oilers won just once in the playoffs after Smiths gaffe and Nugent-Hopkins heroics last May.

That win came in the next game when McDavid scored in overtime in Calgary to close out the Flames. The Oilers were swept by the Avalanche in the Western Conference finals.

This year, they now face the Golden Knights in Round 2, with even less room for error.

The message is that its hard to win, Skinner said. We have a lot more to give. Ive got a lot more to give. Ive got a lot better.

As a team, its going to be hard. Weve got to giddy up here and get excited for this next series.

(Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

The rest is here:
Oilers move on to Round 2 after Kailer Yamamotos goal rescues them from Stuart Skinners blooper - The Athletic