3 Oilers who need to step up to secure a Game 6 victory

ST PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 12: Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers shoots the puck against the Minnesota Wild in the first period of the game at Xcel Energy Center on December 12, 2022 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Oilers 2-1. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
ST PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 12: Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers shoots the puck against the Minnesota Wild in the first period of the game at Xcel Energy Center on December 12, 2022 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Oilers 2-1. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
3 of 4
Edmonton Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto (56)
Mar 30, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Kailer Yamamoto (56) looks to make a pass in front of Los Angeles Kings defensemen Drew Doughty (8) during the first period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

RW Kailer Yamamoto

This will come to no one’s surprise, Kailer Yamamoto has been struggling not only in this series but also before the playoff started. Granted that Yammer maybe is not yet to speed as he was coming from an injury, but this is the playoffs, everyone is banged up and nursing some sort of injury. We already saw him being demoted from the second line in Game 5, he cannot seem to finish his scoring opportunities. When you are playing in the same line with arguably the best passer in the game Draisaitl, there will be plenty of opportunities to bury the puck in, however somehow, Yamamoto cannot do it.

In a game the Oilers might have to rely on secondary scoring, it is critical that Yamamoto finds his scoring touch right away. Having nothing to show for in the stats sheets is unacceptable for a top 6 player. Even if he is not playing top 6 minutes in Game 6, Kailer still has to find a way to help the Oilers in the scoresheet. Time for Yammer to get in the groove and show the Oilers on why his contract must be extended next season as he is a pending RFA in 2024.