Kasperi Kapanen Nets Overtime Winner, Stuart Skinner Secures Back-to-Back Shutouts as Oilers Oust Golden Knights in Game 5 Thriller

The Edmonton Oilers have punched their ticket to the next round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and they did it with grit, defense, and a touch of overtime magic. On Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena, Kasperi Kapanen played the hero, scoring the only goal of the game in overtime to lift the Oilers to a 1-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. The victory not only sealed the best-of-seven series in five games, but it also underscored the incredible goaltending performance of Stuart Skinner, who recorded his second consecutive shutout with 24 saves.

This matchup between two Western Conference powerhouses was expected to be a slugfest, and while the high-octane offenses on both sides were largely neutralized, the tension was palpable through every minute of the contest. The decisive Game 5 was not a scoring showcase, but it was a display of playoff hockey at its finest—tight-checking, disciplined, and marked by clutch performances in key moments.

The story of the night begins, and arguably ends, with Stuart Skinner. After posting a 29-save shutout in Game 4 in Edmonton, Skinner carried his momentum right into hostile territory, stifling the Golden Knights on every chance they managed to muster. From the opening puck drop to the sudden-death goal, Skinner looked locked in, tracking the puck through traffic, smothering rebounds, and outdueling the reigning Stanley Cup champions at every turn.

Skinner’s shutout marked his third of the postseason and second in a row, but it may have been his most impressive yet. Vegas came out with urgency, outshooting the Oilers 10-5 in the first period and generating sustained pressure on multiple shifts. But Skinner remained unshaken, calmly turning away shots from all angles, including a critical pad save on a close-range opportunity from Jonathan Marchessault midway through the second.

As the game wore on, the Oilers began to find their footing. Edmonton’s defense, which had been suspect at times earlier in the series, played one of its most structured games of the season. Darnell Nurse, Evan Bouchard, and Mattias Ekholm led a blueline corps that excelled in gap control and shot suppression, keeping the Golden Knights largely to the perimeter. Vegas’ usually effective transition game was frustrated by consistent backchecking and strong neutral zone play.

But even with their improved defensive structure, the Oilers had difficulty solving Adin Hill, who was nearly Skinner’s equal between the pipes for the Golden Knights. Hill made 26 saves in the loss and turned aside a number of quality looks, including a point-blank wrister from Connor McDavid late in the third and a breakaway chance from Zach Hyman in the second period. It was goaltending excellence on both ends, and it took something special to finally break the deadlock.

That something special came 3:41 into overtime. After a broken play at center ice led to a transition opportunity for the Oilers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins carried the puck into the offensive zone and dished it to Kapanen, who was streaking down the right wing. With a quick toe-drag to elude Brayden McNabb, Kapanen let loose a low snapshot that beat Hill glove-side and sent the Oilers bench into a frenzy.

Kapanen, a trade deadline acquisition from the St. Louis Blues, hadn’t scored since Game 2 of the first round, but his playoff experience and speed had made him a constant presence in the lineup. Thursday night, he delivered his signature moment—one that fans in Edmonton will not forget any time soon.

“It was just instinct,” Kapanen said after the game. “Nuge made a great pass, and I had a bit of space. I just tried to get it on net. I didn’t even see it go in at first. I just heard the boys yelling.”

While the goal will garner headlines, the Oilers’ collective effort was just as critical to their advancement. The top line of McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Hyman drew the majority of Vegas’ defensive attention, and while they didn’t find the scoresheet, their cycling and puck possession wore down the Golden Knights’ defense. McDavid in particular was a force, drawing multiple penalties and showcasing his trademark explosiveness throughout the night.

Secondary scoring had been a question mark for the Oilers coming into the playoffs, but players like Kapanen, Warren Foegele, and Derek Ryan stepped up in the series, providing timely contributions in both ends of the ice. That depth was on full display in Game 5, as the Oilers rolled all four lines and maintained a steady forecheck that prevented Vegas from establishing any offensive rhythm.

For the Golden Knights, the loss was a bitter pill. After winning the Cup in 2023, expectations were high for a deep run again this season, but injuries, inconsistent offense, and a lack of finish plagued them against Edmonton. Mark Stone, who had returned from injury just in time for the series, looked less than 100% and was held without a point. Marchessault and Jack Eichel combined for just two goals in the series, and Vegas’ vaunted power play went ice-cold at the worst possible time.

“We didn’t execute well enough, and that’s on us,” Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We ran into a hot goaltender, sure, but we didn’t make life hard enough for him. We had chances, but no second chances. You’ve got to score to win, and we didn’t.”

The Oilers, meanwhile, are flying high, brimming with confidence and belief. After a rocky start to the regular season that saw them change coaches and flirt with disaster in the standings, Edmonton has rounded into one of the most complete teams in the league. Their special teams have remained potent, their defensive play has tightened, and Skinner’s emergence as a top-tier postseason goaltender has transformed them from a dangerous team to a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

“It’s all about belief in the room,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. “The guys have bought in, they’ve stuck together, and they’re playing the right way. Skinner was incredible again, and we found a way.”

For Skinner, who faced intense scrutiny last year during the playoffs after a string of inconsistent performances, this series has been redemption personified. With three shutouts in just five games, he’s now tied for the league lead in that category and has allowed just five goals total across the series. More importantly, he’s exuding the kind of calm presence that championship-caliber teams feed off.

“This one feels good,” Skinner admitted. “You work your whole life for moments like this. The guys in front of me were incredible again. We’re not done.”

With the victory, the Oilers now await the winner of the series between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche. Both teams present unique challenges, but for the first time in years, Edmonton looks prepared for whatever comes next.

The atmosphere back home in Alberta will undoubtedly be electric. This Oilers team, once seen as a top-heavy squad overly reliant on its superstars, has become something more. They are resilient, balanced, and hungry—a team with its eyes firmly on the prize.

In a game that featured everything except goals, it was a timely shot from a depth winger and another goaltending masterpiece that told the story. The Edmonton Oilers are moving on. And if Thursday night’s performance was any indication, they’re not just participating—they’re here to contend.