Oilers coach says if Evander Kane will come back from injury in the Cup final

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Sam Jones
June 17, 2024 (3:21 PM)

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In a surprising twist, despite missing the last two games of the Cup Final and not participating in today's practice.

Evander Kane is set to make a return to the Edmonton Oilers' lineup. Oilers' coach Kris Knoblauch has expressed confidence in Kane's return, indicating his potential participation in the series could be a game-changer.

Question: «What are the chances Evander Kane plays again in this series?»

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch: «It's good.»

Kane's journey through this postseason has been nothing short of heroic. Playing with a sports hernia and other injuries, his perseverance has been noteworthy. Despite his struggles, as Coach Knoblauch mentioned, the decision to bring him back into play hinges on his health compared to a fully fit teammate. "That's most of the conversations we're having with our medical staff, our doctor . . . We take that information and then we think about if he's running at 75 percent, do we have another guy who's 100 percent? And then we make those decisions."

The forward's performance has been underwhelming statistically, with only one assist in his last nine playoff games. However, the expectation is that a revitalized Kane could significantly boost the Oilers' offensive firepower, especially when they need it most. The Oilers are facing a crucial Game 5 against the Panthers, who are on the brink of clinching the Stanley Cup on their home ice. If Edmonton can leverage Kane's return and replicate the resilience they've shown previously after losing streaks, they could extend the series and potentially shift the momentum in their favor.

Historically, the Oilers have demonstrated the ability to bounce back strongly after consecutive losses, stringing together wins just when it counts. The question now is whether they can summon that resilience once more to challenge for the Stanley Cup. With Kane's return on the horizon, the Oilers look poised to make their stand in what promises to be an electrifying Game 5.