Oilers' Evander Kane was made for this series vs. Golden Knights. He showed why in Game 4

EDMONTON Evander Kane was always built for this series with the Vegas Golden Knights, and he showed exactly why on Monday.

Kane is a unicorn when hes close to full health and engaged in the task at hand.

He can combine high-end offensive skill with truculence and fearlessness, all while evoking infuriation from opponents in a way that can be matched by just a handful of his NHL peers.

Advertisement All that was on display in a pivotal 3-0 Game 4 win for the Edmonton Oilers, who are now a victory away from their third Western Conference final in four years.

Evanders a gamer, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said.

He loves the big-pressure games and when theres a lot on the line.

Kane played a key role in all three goals the Oilers scored, netting one himself and picking up an assist on another.

He was the ringleader as the Oilers irritated the Golden Knights, and specifically goalie Adin Hill, to no end.

From every standpoint, linemate Adam Henrique said of Kanes influence on the outcome.

We talked about playing with energy right off the bat, and Kaner gets in there and mixes things up.

Other guys are following suit, shift after shift.

Theres something about the Golden Knights whom Kane has now played against in four different series that brings out the most in him.

Punishing physicality from the Oilers against a heavy Vegas defence was imperative to the Oilers chances of winning this series.

Kane had to play a major role in that.

He did just that in Game 4 with a team-high six hits.

Its nice having that element to our lineup, Knoblauch said.

The guy who really leads that charge is Kane.

The first check was the most impactful.

Kane decked blueliner Zach Whitecloud behind the Golden Knights net on a forecheck, causing a change of possession and leading to the Oilers first tally.

His old-but-new-again linemates, Henrique and Connor Brown, were the beneficiaries.

Brown grabbed the loose puck and fed Henrique in the slot for a goal just 1:27 into the game.

Kane didnt get a point on the goal, but he was just as important as Henrique or Brown.

The Oilers were in complete control from there.

But Kane wasnt done there.

Not even close.

Later in the period, he bulled over Golden Knights defender Brayden McNabb to create a lane to head to the net.

He was on the lip of the crease when Henrique pulled off a between-the-legs flick past Hill, just before McNabb bowled him over.

Advertisement Kane went flying over Hill, which set off a melee.

Hill, McNabb and Brett Howden all bolted right to Kane, who was the only one of the four to receive a penalty on the play.

Its tough to avoid contract when youre getting cross-checked into him, Kane said of his run-in with Hill.

We want to go there hard and play within the rules and not have goals disallowed.

Thats important.

Kane then kept on a rush and scored in the second period.

His shot appeared to nick McNabbs skate before beating Hill five-hole.

Kane crashed into the boards after trying to jump over the sliding McNabb, but got up with a big smile.

That goal rounded out the scoring and was all the offence the Oilers needed.

Hes working.

Hes fighting for us.

Hes grinding.

Hes scoring goals, goaltender Stuart Skinner said.

I mean, its pretty impressive.

Kane causing havoc against the Golden Knights is nothing new.

He was also a central figure when the teams met two years ago in the second round.

His If you want to f around, sometimes youre going to find out comments caught the Golden Knights ire, as did his pounding on Keegan Kolesar in Game 2.

The photo of him blowing a kiss to the Vegas fan flipping him the bird was art.

But back then, his antics were more notable.

Though playing through an injury, he managed just one assist in six games to go with 36 penalty minutes.

The 2023 playoffs were a letdown, especially after he scored 13 times in 15 games to say nothing of rattling then-Calgary Flame Matthew Tkachuk in a run to the conference finals the year prior.

And then there was his 2024 postseason.

Kane let everyone know hed been playing through a sports hernia ahead of those playoffs.

He was basically limited to bottom-six duty and got more worn down with each passing round.

He barely played in the Western final clincher against Dallas.

He managed to suit up in the first two Stanley Cup Final games before he could no longer help the cause.

Advertisement Abdominal surgeries in September and a knee scope cost him the entire regular season and the playoff opener.

Not every game has been a gem, but hes provided some significant moments since returning.

Hes already been far more useful than he was a year ago.

Everythings so much better, Knoblauch said.

Hes making more plays.

Hes getting up and down the ice a lot better.

Hes putting more oomph into those hits.

He looks like a different player.

Kane had two points in Game 3 against the Los Angeles Kings, just his second game of the season.

His goal tied the score in the third period and prompted that ill-advised challenge from Kings coach Jim Hiller, who was convinced Kane interfered with goaltender Darcy Kuemper.

He had points in three other games before Monday.

But his all-around effort in Game 4 against the Golden Knights topped everything hes done thus far.

I love watching Kaner play, Oilers defenceman Jake Walman said.

Hes one of those guys thats (hard) on the body.

Thats what propels his game.

Its a little bit intimidating for the opposing team when that guys coming down on you.

Of course, hes got the hands and can finish, too.

Its nice having him on our team.

With Kane leading the way, the Oilers, from top to bottom, dominated this game.

Skinner made the stops he needed to in a 24-save shutout, the second of his playoff career.

Henrique had his second-ever two-goal game in the postseason.

His first came when he was a rookie in 2012.

A newly formed line of Leon Draisaitl, Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen who made his Oilers playoff debut shut down a Golden Knights top trio featuring Hart Trophy candidate Jack Eichel.

Walman and John Klingberg were largely tasked with the same and excelled.

Three of the last six outings Game 5 against the Kings, this series opener in Las Vegas and now Mondays Game 4 have been masterclasses by the Oilers.

Advertisement Kane spearheaded the latest decisive win with his best performance since returning.

It was hard to know exactly what hed bring to the table a month ago as he was working his way back from a 10-month playing absence.

The two points he recorded Monday have him up to four goals and three assists in nine games.

And his influence, of course, goes beyond his offence.

Am I surprised? No.

But I didnt necessarily have any expectations, Kane said.

Feeling good and healthy and able to do what I need to do physically on the ice, I thought Id be able to give myself a better opportunity than I did last year.

That gave me confidence.

(Photo: Leila Devlin / Getty Images).

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