Oilers’ Kane a game-time decision for Game 6

The Edmonton Oilers shouldn’t need to change anything ahead of Game 6, following consecutive wins to stave off elimination in Game 4 and Game 5. But one veteran player may be an option, if coach Kris Knoblauch does choose to make an adjustment.

Knoblauch said Friday morning that forward Evander Kane is looking better and will be a game-time decision for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers. 

At Oilers morning skate, forward Dylan Holloway remained on the ice late with the rest of the healthy scratches. However, Kane skated with the scratches yesterday at practice, so the decision could really go either way, judging by the usual media signs. 

Kane has not played since Game 2 of the Final in Florida on June 10, missing the past three games for the Oilers. In Game 6 against the Dallas Stars, Kane played only 4:39. After returning to normal in Game 1 of the Final, he played only 10:33 in Game 2 and looked physically uncomfortable, constantly standing rather than sitting on the Edmonton bench. 

The 32-year-old announced before the postseason that he had been dealing with a sports hernia, but Edmonton has not confirmed that this is related and has kept his current ailment undisclosed. 

Kane has eight points (four goals, four assists) in 20 playoff games during Edmonton’s run. His best series came in the second round against the Vancouver Canucks, when he tallied two goals and two assists in seven games. He has 43 points (26 goals, 17 assists) in 76 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. 

The Oilers used wins in Game 4 and 5 to bring this series back to Alberta at 3-2. They head into Game 6 at home with all the momentum and a chance to force a do-or-die Game 7 and become only the second team in NHL history (1942 Toronto Maple Leafs) to win the Stanley Cup after trailing the series 3-0.