For the first time since 2006, the Edmonton Oilers are heading to the Stanley Cup Finals. They defeated the Dallas Stars in six games, setting up a matchup with the Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers.
However, there is some concern that the Oilers will not be at full strength when their series starts on Saturday. Right winger Evander Kane was forced out of the clinching Game 6 because of an injury.
In the first period, Stars’ Alex Petrovic hit Kane with a body check, and an injury was suffered. While he was able to return to the bench, he did not get back on the ice to skate. He was in visible discomfort, but it was certainly an encouraging sign he came back at all, even though he didn’t log any more minutes.
Kane has been an integral part of the Edmonton Oilers’ lineup all postseason. He had logged at least 13:08 of ice time in all 17 postseason games before absorbing the hit from Petrovic and playing only 4:39.
In the regular season, he provided the team with 24 goals and 44 total points. In the postseason, he scored four goals and four assists. His absence would be a significant one, but coach Kris Knoblauch expressed optimism that Kane would be in the lineup Game 1 against the Panthers.
“Yes, it was obviously injury-related,” Knoblauch told reporters in his Game 6 postgame press conference. “Fortunately we’ve got this week before we play on Saturday, and we’re optimistic he’ll be playing on Saturday.”
Don’t expect the Edmonton Oilers to give much away when it comes to Kane’s status. Any edge a team can find, they will take full advantage of. Keeping the Panthers guessing is part of the gamesmanship at this point in the season.
Saturday’s morning skate is likely the next time we get any update on Kane. If there is any concern about him making the injury worse, the Edmonton Oilers could hold him out to make sure he is available later in the series and closer to 100 percent healthy.
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