Oilers coach gives update on Evander Kane ahead of must-win game

Despite line combinations being the same at practice today as they were in Game 5, the Edmonton Oilers haven’t ruled out a big change tomorrow night.

Thanks to two-straight wins, the Oilers have erased a 3-0 series deficit versus the Florida Panthers and are now on the verge of forcing a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Oilers have been forced to do so without Evander Kane, who has been at less than 100% the entire playoffs and sat the last two games as a result. That said, the time to rest seems to be helping him, as he skated with his teammates at today’s practice. Based on some comments afterward from head coach Kris Knoblauch, we may not have seen the last of him.

“We’ve got some things to think about,” Knoblauch said when asked about Kane’s status. “I still haven’t seen [head athletic therapist] T.D. [Forss] to follow up on how good he feels. We have possibilities.”

When healthy, Kane is a highly impactful player for the Oilers. During the 2022 playoffs, he scored 13 goals in just 15 games while causing plenty of havoc thanks to his physicality. Unfortunately for the Oilers, his injury, which he admitted before the playoffs started as a sports hernia, has hampered his play. Through 20 games, he’s amassed just four goals and eight points.

With Kane out, the Oilers have relied on Mattias Janmark, Adam Henrique, Connor Brown, Ryan McLeod, Derek Ryan, and Corey Perry to fill out their bottom six. If Kane is able to go, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the 37-year-old Ryan draw out of the lineup.

Regardless of who sits and who plays, everyone in the lineup will need to ensure they are at their best in Game 6. The Panthers will be bringing everything they have in what will be their third straight game with an opportunity to hoist the Stanley Cup.

“You’ve heard our players talk a lot about playing their best when their backs are against the wall,” Knoblauch said. “That puts a lot of pressure on teams. Sometimes you see a lot of players clamp up, not play their best because of that extra stress. Our guys have gone through it so many times they’re just savouring the moment.”

Puck drop in tomorrow’s contest is set for 6 pm MT.

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