Stanley Cup playoffs: Kane’s hat trick helps Oilers take series lead vs. Flames

May 23 (UPI) — Veteran winger Evander Kane logged a second-period hat trick to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames in Game 4 of the second round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Leon Draisaitl assisted all four Oilers goals in the Game 3 victory Sunday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Fellow forward Connor McDavid totaled three assists.

“It was fun,” Kane told reporters. “It was good to come back home and play these guys on our home ice. We came out with a really good start. It was a good win for our group.”

Oilers goaltender Mike Smith made 32 saves in the victory. The Oilers now lead the best-of-seven game series 2-1. Game 4 will be Tuesday in Edmonton.

“I’m just trying to make saves for our group to be honest,” Smith said. “I’m trying to stay as poised as possible and make saves when the team needs me to.”

Neither team scored through the first 20 minutes of the game. Draisaitl and McDavid then assisted left wing Zach Hyman 18 for the first score just 52 seconds into the second period.

McDavid cruised down the left flank to start the play. He then fired a pass atop the circles for Draisaitl, who flicked the puck onto Hyman. Hyman finished the play with a stick-side shot past Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom.

Kane then started his scoring streak. He found the net three times in a span of six minutes. He beat Markstrom for the first leg of his hat trick 6:58 into the bridge period.

Kane intercepted the Flames back on the defensive end to spark the play. He then found Draisaitl with a pass on the right flank and skated forward. Draisaitl pulled the puck past the blue line, deked a defender and sent a pass back to Kane between the circles. Kane finished the play with a backhanded wrist shot into the right side of the net.

Kane added his second score 53 seconds later. Draisaitl took control of a loose puck deep in Oilers territory. He then passed up to McDavid, who worked around several defenders inside the Flames’ right circle.

McDavid then slipped a pass in front of the left post for Kane, who buried a point-blank range shot for a 3-0 lead.

Kane completed his hat trick with 7:02 remaining in the second period. Draisaitl found McDavid near the Oilers’ blue line to spark that transition score.

The Oilers’ forward then skated up the ice and found Kane between the circles. Kane held the puck on his left, pulled it back right and flicked another backhanded wrister past Markstrom.

Defenseman Oliver Kylington scored the Flames’ lone goal with 4:51 remaining in the game. Centers Calle Jarnkrok and Dillon Dube assisted that goal.

The Oilers host the Flames in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals at 9:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday at Rogers Place.