HIGHLIGHTS
- The Edmonton Oilers are getting a key piece back on Wednesday
- Evander Kane is set to make his season debut
- Read below for the full story
The Edmonton Oilers will welcome back a familiar face for Game 2 against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night.
Evander Kane is set to play his first game of 2024-25 after missing the entire campaign due to injuries:
Kane last took the ice in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals last June against the Florida Panthers. He had surgery in September to fix two hernias and two hip issues. The veteran then had to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery in early January.
The 33-year-old was an impactful player for the Oilers in 2023-24, scoring 24 goals and tallying 20 assists. Ahead of his return, Kane made it clear he was confident about playing at some point this season.
Via The Athletic:
“It’s been a long time since I last played a game,” Kane said. “It’s nice to get in and get an opportunity to contribute.”
“I was always confident that I’d be back playing (this season). I was unsure of when that was going to happen, but I’m looking forward to tonight.”
Kane will join the second line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman. Head coach Kris Knoblauch knows he can add a spark to the Oilers’ offense:
“It’s very difficult for a player to come back after a long stretch, but Evander has a little bit of an X-factor,” Knoblauch said. “He’s going to be physical; he can still shoot a puck and score. That’s two very important things to do in the playoffs.”
Edmonton lost a 6-5 heartbreaker in Game 1 after overcoming a 4-0 deficit. They will be looking to grab a crucial victory on the road before heading back to Alberta for Games 3 and 4.
