Evander Kane clearly sees and hears the local media coverage of the Edmonton Oilers. While most players would probably choose to distance themselves as much as possible from the thoughts and criticisms of media personalities, Kane seems well aware of what others are saying. In fact, he seems to thrive on it. After the Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 6-1 on Friday, Kane directly contradicted a media member's opinion.
It was a happy moment for Kane fans. And for those who don't admire Marc Spector's work at Sportsnet, it seemed like a bit of karma.
What's the story behind the Kane and Specter beefs?
What fans may not realize is that Spector appeared on a local radio show and said of Kane: He is working his way as a bringer of drama. ” Spector spoke about Kane's attempt to open up about his sports hernia injury (a surprise to many who know that athletes usually hide that information), adding, “That's been the case throughout Kane's career. Like, there's too much drama. There's too much drama around Evander Cain. It's unnecessary drama.”
Not long after those comments, Kane came on and played his best game as an Oiler in a while. In Game 3, he made a beautiful assist on Leon Draisaitl's goal, scored, and was also in the game, completing a hat trick for Gordie Howe. As Kane emerged from the penalty box, his teammates gave him a standing ovation, clearly impressed by his fightback after taking an illegal blow to the head.
Kane lets Specter know he's not impressed.
After the Game 3 win, Specter participated in a media conference and asked Kane about the playoffs and what makes him play so well this time of year. “Is it the physical part of the game, the pressure or is there more to it than that?” he asks. What makes you play your best hockey at this time of year?'' Kane thought for a moment and came up with the best answer possible.
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He said, “All the drama…brings out the best in me.” Interestingly, Zach Hyman completely noticed this reference and grinned while sitting next to Kane.
Some believe this was a well-deserved applause for Spector. Some may argue that commenting on Kane's decision to talk about his injury issues is doing his job, but it goes beyond a simple analysis of why Spector made the decision to reveal his sports hernia issue. This is a comment, and most people agree that Specter crossed the line. He generalized about Kane's career, suggesting she was a selfish drama queen who was trying to get work out of Edmonton. This wasn't the first time Spector had hinted at friction between the team and its players.
Evander Cain has woken up
Whether or not Spector's comments are the catalyst for Kane to play again, it's clear he's motivated. His performances in Games 1 and 2 gave him a chance to finish in the top six, so his coach promoted him to the second line on Friday. In the third game, Kane was a possessed man. He lost coverage on Drew Doty's goal (as Specter was quick to point out), but made up for it with a goal a few minutes later.
What was most impressive about Kane's performance on Friday was his composure. Even when several kings pursued him, Kain never lost his cool. In his fight with Andreas Englund, Kane also calmly led England out of the pack and fought to show that he was not a fan of dirty blows. The Kings took most of their penalties from that point on, and that was their undoing.
Whether it was the Spectres or the Kings who woke up Kane, the important thing is that he woke up now. That's good news for oil companies.
