Oilers eliminate Golden Knights on Kapanen's OT winner

Kasperi Kapanen scored in overtime in Game 5 on Wednesday to eliminate the Vegas Golden Knights and send the Edmonton Oilers to the Western Conference Final.

Kapanen played his first game of the playoffs in Game 4. He hadn't scored a goal since Jan. 23.

"Obviously it's something pretty special," Kapanen said, according to Sportsnet.

He added, "Just being ready for whenever they need me. It's not the most fun doing those skates after practices and what not, but the team was playing outstanding so obviously we're not going to change up our lineup. I knew once I get that opportunity, just try to play simple and give it my all. So far it's looking pretty good."

The Oilers are the first team to punch their ticket to Round 3. They'll take on the winner of the Winnipeg Jets-Dallas Stars series, which the latter leads 3-1. Edmonton defeated Dallas in last year's Western Conference Final.

Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner posted his second consecutive shutout. He was demoted to backup after two disastrous appearances to open Round 1 but was called upon again in Game 3 against Vegas after Calvin Pickard got injured. Skinner lost his return to the crease but stopped all 47 shots he faced in Games 4 and 5.

"To be honest, today was the least nerve-wracking that I've been in the last three games, believe it or not," Skinner told Sportsnet postgame. "I'm not too sure. I had a feeling of peace tonight. My job is just to give the team a chance to win, and I can't really do too much else."

Skinner also spoke on the ups and downs of his playoff run so far.

"It's very difficult, to say the least," he said. "It's definitely been a grind, a lot of work just trying to stay sane in all of it, too. Obviously a moment where we were able to step up. Again, I've got so much to thank for my teammates with all their support even through that, and also how they've been playing since I've been in."

Oilers captain Connor McDavid had a message for Skinner's critics after consecutive clean sheets.

"Hopefully it shuts up a lot of people who were talking about him," McDavid said, according to Sportsnet's Gene Principe.