Evander Kane’s hat trick against Colorado Avalanche lifts Edmonton Oilers into playoffs – Edmonton

Evander Kane recorded his fourth profession hat trick Friday evening because the Edmonton Oilers clinched a playoff spot with a 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche at Rogers Place.

“I assumed he was a bodily presence at present,” Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft stated of Kane after the sport.

“I assumed he added an emotional attachment to the sport that obtained all people into it, and it was good to see him rewarded with a sport like that.”

The Oilers gave up a string of odd-man rushes partway by means of the primary. The Avs made them pay on a three-on-one with Bowen Byram feeding Valeri Nichushkin for his twenty third aim of the season.

Late within the first and into the second, the Oilers’ penalty kill got here up massive, keeping off the Avs on a five-on-three that lasted 1:11.

“It was type of odd beginning a interval with a five-on-three,” Oilers ahead Leon Draisaitl stated. “All 4 of us, (goaltender Mike Smith) included, did job limiting their possibilities.”

“I assumed possibly essentially the most vital second of the sport was the five-on-three penalty kill,” Woodcroft stated.

“Typically these guys don’t get as a lot credit score for laying it on the road, and we’ve actually labored arduous at it, so it’s good to see them contribute to an enormous win.”

Not lengthy after, Kane scored on a wraparound to make it 1-1.

Evan Bouchard confirmed a deft contact to offer the Oilers the lead. His preliminary shot went huge. The puck flew off the tip boards and Bouchard batted it out of the air for his eleventh aim of the 12 months. Nichushkin got here proper again for the Avs because the groups mixed for 3 targets in 1:37.

Nonetheless within the second, Oilers defenceman Duncan Keith discovered Kane to the suitable of the web for his second of the evening.

​”It was an incredible heads-up play by him,” Kane stated. “He might have shot it or achieved numerous various things, however he made an actual cerebral play there and was capable of finding me on the again facet.”

Kane accomplished the hat trick with 5:40 left within the second, stepping round Avs defenceman Josh Manson earlier than flicking a shot by means of goaltender Darcy Kuemper.

“We’ve actually grown as a staff these final couple of months and it’s nice to see the success we’re having, as a result of it simply will increase that buy-in to the mentality that we have to win within the playoffs,” Kane stated.

“I’m so completely satisfied for Evander,” Woodcroft stated.

“He’s an enormous purpose why we’re at the place we’re at proper now, and to see him have a sport like that the place we clinch a playoff spot, I feel he’s pushed to indicate that kind of play in a playoff collection.”

Oilers winger Kailer Yamamoto scored on a spinning backhand midway by means of the third.

“We’re taking part in arduous, and we additionally obtained pushed by staff at present,” Woodcroft stated.

Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon scored a late aim with Kuemper pulled for an additional attacker. Edmonton defenceman Kris Russell replied with an empty-netter.

The Oilers are 12-0-1 of their final 13 residence video games. Smith made 34 saves and has gained his final 9 begins. Connor McDavid had three assists.

“Going by means of robust instances this 12 months actually made this staff stick collectively and develop and perceive what it takes to win tight hockey video games and get on a roll and get some confidence,” Smith stated after the sport.

Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse left the sport within the second interval and didn’t return.

​”I haven’t even appeared on the video of it, I simply know he wasn’t accessible to us,” Woodcroft stated. “We’ll have extra info within the morning.”

The Oilers (46-26-6) will go to Columbus on Sunday. You possibly can take heed to the sport stay on 630 CHED starting with The Faceoff Present at 9:30 a.m.. Thee precise sport begins at 11 a.m.

–With recordsdata from Brenden Escott, 630 CHED