Kane needed a place to resurrect his NHL career after the San Jose Sharks terminated his contract Jan. 9. The Oilers needed support for superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, a player with the speed, skill and smarts to help make the most of their talent.
To this point, it couldn't have worked out better.
Kane had 39 points (22 goals, 17 assists) in 43 games for the Oilers in the regular season, and now he has 13 points (10 goals, three assists) in 10 games for them in the playoffs, giving him 52 points (32 goals, 20 assists) in 53 games for them overall.
"I'd say he's doing pretty good," Oilers goalie Mike Smith said with a smile.
Game 3 of the Battle of Alberta showcased the line of Kane, McDavid and Draisaitl, with Kane scoring a natural hat trick in six-minute span in the second period, the seventh fastest playoff hat trick in NHL history.
First, Kane forced a turnover in the Edmonton zone and sent the puck up through the neutral zone to Draisaitl, while Calgary struggled with a line change. Kane drove to the net, took a pass from Draisaitl and deked Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom, giving the Oilers a 2-0 lead at 6:58.
Then, Draisaitl sent the puck up through the neutral zone to McDavid, who pivoted away from a defender at the Calgary blue line, streaked into the right circle and backhanded a pass from right to left across the crease. Kane tapped it in, giving the Oilers a 3-0 lead at 7:51.
Finally, Draisaitl made a little pass along the wall in the Edmonton zone to McDavid, who sped through the neutral zone, creating a 2-on-1 with Kane. McDavid sent a saucer pass onto Kane's tape, and Kane deked Markstrom again, giving the Oilers at 4-0 lead at 12:58.
"He's a hockey player with really good habits," said Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft, who came up from Bakersfield of the American Hockey League to replace Dave Tippett on Feb. 10. "Really, really good habits. I didn't know that about him. But there's a reason why he finds success on the ice."
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Again. Speed, skill and smarts. Each of Kane's three goals came within a few feet of the net, and each came off a pass from one of the best players in the NHL. But Kane has the ability to finish plays like that. Not everyone does.
Draisaitl, playing through a lower-body injury, became the first player in NHL history to score four points in a playoff period and the fourth player in Oilers history to have at least four assists in a playoff game. He has 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in 10 games, second in the playoffs.
"He's been really good for our group," Kane said. "I think he's getting better and better each day, and you're seeing it in his play. I think he's been great for us this series, and he just seems to find another level each and every night. He made some really, really good plays, especially on the wall tonight."
McDavid had three assists, becoming the first player in NHL history with nine multipoint games through his first 10 games in a postseason. He leads the playoffs with 23 points (six goals, 17 assists).
"He's been on fire in the playoffs," Kane said. "He's taking his game to the next level. I think he's not just doing it on the scoresheet. That's what's allowing him to really showcase his skill. He's physical. He's involved. He's winning puck battles along the wall, both in the defensive zone and in the offensive zone. He's a dominant force out there."
Kane, McDavid and Draisaitl have combined for 55 points. The last time three teammates on any team combined for 55 or more points through 10 playoff games? The 1988 Oilers. Eight combinations of players did so, led by Wayne Gretzky (22), Mark Messier (22) and Jari Kurri (18), who combined for 62.
"Obviously playing with some really good players," Kane said. "Just want to finish my opportunities."
