As Oilers face elimination, Knoblauch silent on status of Evander Kane

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When asked if Evander Kane, hurt or not, would be playing in what could be the last game of the Edmonton Oilers’ season on Saturday, the normally forthcoming head coach Kris Knoblauch chose not to bite on any lineup questions.

Knoblauch hasn’t channelled former head coach Jay Woodcroft, whose favourite playoff saying was, “You’ll see what comes out of the gate” when asked about who was in and who was out.

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This time, Knoblauch chose not to answer the Kane question.

There’s nothing to save Kane for.

If he’s out day-to-day, they’re running out of days, right?

“Things are a little bit different, there’s a little more at stake,” said Knoblauch, who had no trouble earlier in the playoffs telling people that Stu Skinner was out for Calvin Pickard, or that Corey Perry was a healthy scratch, or Cody Ceci was taking a seat. But not now.

“In the regular season there’s not much reason to hide, er, keep anything secret,” said Knoblauch, with a little smile.

“Playoffs are a little bit different. I’m going to have to make you wait.”

Kane, who was scratched for the first time in the playoffs in Game 3 on Thursday has been playing with a sports hernia for a long while, and maybe something else after checking Alex Petrovic in the Dallas series. He was on the ice Wednesday for the team’s practice, rare for a guy who usually is taking a “maintenance day.” But after a conversation with Knoblauch by the boards, he left the ice.

He didn’t skate Friday, along with Darnell Nurse (hip).

The team had an optional skate Saturday morning.

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That session was also a no-go for Kane, who could be on Leon Draisaitl’s wing, if playing.

Defenceman Vinny Desharnais took the optional skate, a tip-off that he’s probably out again with Ceci in the third pairing with Brett Kulak. There also had been conjecture that Sam Gagner, who hasn’t played in two month, might get a shot. But it appears doubtful. He was skating with the extras, too, Saturday morning.

Based off Friday’s skate, Draisaitl will be with Warren Foegele and Perry.

The Oilers remain confident they can win a game and not be the first team swept in a Stanley Cup final since Detroit did it to Washington in 1998. They’re 20-20 career in elimination playoff games, and 2-0 this season, with both wins against Vancouver in the second round.

This could be Perry’s last game, Game 212 in his playoff career, which ranks 16th all-time.

He’s 39 and he’s still looking for his first post-season Oiler goal in 15 games.

“Am I savouring this? Well, obviously, yeah. I’m getting older, time’s running out,” said Perry.

“As I’ve said, I won when I was 22 years old (Anaheim), 17 years ago now, but you can’t take things for granted. You have to lay everything on the line. You may never get back, never get this chance again. I really believe that.”

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