Edmonton Oilers update Evander Kane's injury status at practice
Earlier this week, Oilers coach Knoblauch said that Evander Kane's chances of returning to play in the Cup Final were very good, but ahead of Game 6, Kane appears to be still out of the lineup.
Kane has missed nearly every practice this playoffs, but today skated on the fifth line alongside likely scratches Sam Carrick and Sam Gagner, indicating that he will be out of the lineup again in Game 6. After fighting through a sports hernia all playoffs and likely sustaining more injuries along the way, Knoblauch took Kane out of the lineup to rest up, and dress a more effective healthy player.
After game 2 of the series, Knoblauch had a long conversation with Kane at a morning skate before he left, and he's not been in the lineup since.
Oilers' Evander Kane unlikely to play in Game 6 of Stanley Cup Final
Before game 5, Knoblauch was extremely confident Kane would be back in the lineup at some point this series. Today he mentioned he has not consulted the team doctors on Kane yet, which shows that Knoblauch's confident comment could've also been about extending the series to 7 games.
Kane was a warrior for battling through injuries to be in the lineup, but realistically it is best for the Oilers to dress a more reliable and healthy player. Warren Foegele has entered the lineup in his place, and while he isn't the scoring power forward that Evander Kane is while he's healthy, Foegele has contributed enough to be moved to the first line.
It could also be mind games from the coach, but it seems more plausible that Evander Kane will miss at least one more game, and will be questionable for Game 7 as well, if it gets that far. Tomorrow night the Oilers will look to defend their home ice after successfully dragging the series back to Alberta, and look to force a do-or-die Game 7 for the Stanley Cup.
Source: Jason Gregor
Watching entire practice it does not look like Kane will play.
| POLL | ||
Do you think Evander Kane will play if the Oilers force a Game 7? | ||
| Yes, he'll play | 187 | 39.6 % |
| No, he's injured and there's better options | 267 | 56.6 % |
| See Results | 18 | 3.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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