As the Stanley Cup Finals push on, Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane's compounding injuries have left him physically unable to sit on the bench.
It is no secret that hockey is a physically grueling sport met with its more than fair share of injuries. Despite these obstacles, players often find themselves on the ice amidst what is supposed to be a recovery process. This seems to be the case for Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane, who after not appearing on the ice for the morning skate, claims he is still set to play in tonight's Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
"I think I'm going to be playing tonight. It's the Stanley Cup Final, so I think everybody's geared up and ready to play. There's lots of guys going through different things. I'm excited about tonight's game and responding from Game 1."
Yet, the player's struggle is clear to many active viewers. Kane has only been able to put up one point in eight games; a far cry from what we would generally expect from this player. Additionally, Sportsnet reporter Mark Spector pointed out that the player has been unable to sit, making time at the bench less restful than it should be otherwise.
"No Kane at practice, which is normal. One thing, source tells me Kane never (or very seldom) sat on the bench in Game 1. Whatever his injury, sitting doesn't work for him. He's walking the line between courageous and ineffective, 1 pt in 8 games."
Despite his apparent hernia, Evander Kane has been productive for the Oilers in this season's NHL playoffs and is now the leader in hits among remaining players. However, with the aggressive play of the Florida Panthers and the sheer dominance of Sergei Bobrovsky, it will be a tough road for Kane to pull Edmonton back in the series tonight.