Yamamoto shines again, scores twice as Oilers down Canucks in pre-season
1st-round pick trying to stick in NHL, avoid return to WHL Spokane this season
EDMONTON (CP) — Kailer Yamamoto is definitely making a strong case for a longer look with the Edmonton Oilers.
Yamamoto and Iiro Pakarinen both had two goals as the Oilers emerged with a 5-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night.
Drafted 22nd overall in the 2017 NHL draft, Yamamoto has four goals and an assist in three pre-season games.
“I just expected to come in and work as hard as a I could to be the player I am and not do too much, just to stick with what I can do,” said Yamamoto, a 5-foot-8 forward out of Spokane, Wash., who had 99 points with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs last season. “I think I have been playing smart and have been doing a good job keeping my head up against the bigger guys.
“I’m still trying to figure out the systems. My game has been good, but it can still be better . . . . This all almost feels surreal.”
Leon Draisiatl also scored for the Oilers, who are perfect in pre-season play with a 4-0 record.
The German forward likes the poise he has seen out of Yamamoto to this point.
“It’s really impressive,” Draisaitl said. “He understands the game really well. He’s a fearless little guy. He doesn’t shy away from getting in there and that’s the most important thing. He has a really good hockey sense and a knack for finding the net and making plays.”
“He knows how to play with his size,” added Oilers head coach Todd McLellan. “The more structured the game gets, the better he plays.”
Michael Carcone, Anton Rodin and Jalen Chatfield replied for the Canucks (2-3-0) who dressed what is primarily their American Hockey League roster with the bulk of the usual team in China to play the L.A. Kings.
After Edmonton had a goal by defenceman Keegan Lowe called off due to a Canuck dislodging the net, Vancouver was able to take a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal with seven minutes remaining in the first period. Carcone skated in from the point with the man advantage and beat Oilers netminder Laurent Brossoit to the glove side.
The Oilers tied it up with 25 seconds left in the opening period, as Milan Lucic sprung Draisaitl on a breakaway and he buried it past Vancouver goalie Richard Bachman.
Edmonton went up 2-1 five minutes into the middle frame when Chris Kelly sent the puck across to Yamamoto and he made no mistake, scoring his third goal of the pre-season.
The Oilers added to their lead midway through the second when Pakarinen scored on a shorthanded breakaway.
The Canucks pulled within one four minutes into the third period, as Rodin picked off a pass and went in alone, beating Brossoit with a wrist shot.
Edmonton responded quickly as Pakarinen rifled in his second goal of the game from the top of the circle.
The Oilers padded their lead with a powerplay goal as Draisaitl found Yamamoto at the side of the net for his second of the contest.
Vancouver got one back with six minutes left, as Chatfield scored on a point shot.