Oilers eliminate Kings in Game 6 behind late Kailer Yamamoto goal

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The shortest player on the Edmonton Oilers roster had their biggest goal Saturday night.

Kailer Yamamoto scored with 3:02 remaining for his first point of the series as the Oilers beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 in Game 6 to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

In a series dominated by superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, it was the Oilers' fourth line that played a pivotal role. Besides Yamamoto, Klim Kostin had two goals and an assist.

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Edmonton Oilers celebrate the team's 5-4 win against the Los Angeles Kings in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29, 2023.  (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

"It didn’t go in the net early in the series but he stuck with it. He stuck with it and eventually ended up scoring the series winner," Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said.

Yamamoto — who lived in Los Angeles for three years and played youth hockey for the Jr. Kings — got possession of the puck deep in the offensive zone, skated around and then sent a wrist shot through traffic and past the right shoulder and stick of Kings goaltender Joonas Korpisalo.

"Being in this position it's pretty crazy. Playing against them last year you get your hopes up," Yamamoto said about scoring a pivotal goal against the Kings. "To be able to beat them is an amazing feeling."

McDavid and Draisaitl also scored while Stuart Skinner stopped 40 shots as the Oilers knocked the Kings out of the postseason for the second straight season.

Next up for Edmonton is the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. The Oilers won three of the four