Evander Kane is once again in hot water after yet another undisciplined play and the NHL has no choice but to act this time.
On Monday, during Game 3 of the Edmonton Oilers’ second round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, Kane took a run at Alex Pietrangelo at the end of the first period. After the horn blew to signal time, Kane finished his check into Pietrangelo, cross-checking the Golden Knights’ defenseman in the face with this stick.
Kane was assessed a two-minute minor for cross-checking to give the Golden Knights a power play to start the second, as the play was as unnecessary as it comes.
Tempers flare after Evander Kane cross-checks Alex Pietrangelo to the neck 😳 pic.twitter.com/ZP2KdbXUhn
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 9, 2023
Evander Kane with a cross-check to Alex Pietrangelo's face as the 1st period ends 😳 pic.twitter.com/mefeT4y9CH
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 9, 2023
While the officials on the ice gave Kane a minor penalty for the infraction, the Oilers’ forward has been stirring the pot all series long for Edmonton. In Game 2, Kane received a double minor and a 10-minute misconduct for roughing after this brutal scrum where he landed multiple body blows to a defenseless player on the ice.
Referee Kelly Sutherland getting out his handy dandy notebook while Evander Kane lands 5 unanswered body shots to Kolesar, lying on his back. pic.twitter.com/TRD2QRfOgB
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) May 7, 2023
Kane’s response to the Game 2 kerfuffle?
“When you want to [expletive] around, sometimes you gotta find out.”
Well, considering Kane has been at the center of two reckless plays in two games, surely now is when he finds out about consequences? Yes, the referees on the ice penalized Kane for the dangerous cross-check, but enough should be enough for him at this point.
Here’s how NHL fans reacted to Kane’s dangerous cross-check to the head of Pietrangelo.
[affiliatewidget_deal5]
Evander Kane. Debatable decision maker.
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) May 9, 2023
That was one of the most undisciplined penalties I've ever seen. The Golden Knights will start the second period on a power play thanks to an Evander Kane cross-checking penalty at the buzzer.
— Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) May 9, 2023
Would love to know what Evander Kane was thinking at the end of the period. Play to the whistle? That’s cool. No problems there. Cross check to the face? Problem. The time was winding down, so if he lets it go, just stops skating, there’s no chance for a penalty.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) May 9, 2023
Evander Kane…not an easy person to like. Brings it all on himself.
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) May 9, 2023
What a underground cheap hit by Evander Kane at the end of the period. So dirty and unnecessary
— Kyle Keefe (@kylekeefetv) May 9, 2023
Other players may take more penalties than Evander Kane, but I'm not sure anyone takes more totally unnecessary ones
— James O'Brien 📎 (@cyclelikesedins) May 9, 2023
It was called. But, something this deliberate is 🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨 https://t.co/IVa3udgc22
— Rachel Doerrie (@racheldoerrie) May 9, 2023
what in the blue hell!? https://t.co/T1bRkdVxS2
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) May 9, 2023
When you search up dumb penalty in the dictionary this is what shows up. https://t.co/i6WIt8zLXg
— Connor Hrabchak (@ConnorHrabchak1) May 9, 2023
