Evander Kane shines on second line with Nugent-Hopkins and Hyman

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing, and some players are taking center stage. From big scores to shutdowns, these players are making themselves heard. Let’s examine four names that pop up in different series: Evander Kane , Shayne Gostisbehere, Jakob Chychrun, and Victor Olofsson, each bringing something special to the ice.

Evander Kane remains a physical playoff point man for the Edmonton Oilers
Evander Kane had already accumulated five points on three goals and two assists in just seven playoff games. He's been most noticeable during the Second Round, with two points against the Vegas Golden Knights in their two games thus far.

Evander Kane appears to be in the lineup for Game 2 — taking line rushes with Nugent-Hopkins & Hyman.

Kane has 12 goals vs. LA in the last three playoffs combined. Between the two clubs, that ranks tied for second behind Draisaitl (18 goals). #Oilers pic.twitter.com/xg2P5XD35x

— Tony Brar 🚀 (@TonyBrarOTV) April 23, 2025

Evander Kane’s effort goes beyond scoring. He leads the team in even-strength shot attempts (12) and is second in even-strength shots on goal (five) in the series. He's attempted three or more shots in four of his last six games and is second among Oilers skaters in even-strength shot attempts (43) and shots on goal (20) in the overall playoff so far tied for fourth in the NHL.


Evander Kane ranks in the 83rd percentile on high-danger shots on goal (seven) and possesses two high-danger goals, per NHL EDGE stats. His net-crashing and pace-pushing abilities have resulted in him being an ideal complement on the second line alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (six-game point streak) and Zach Hyman (six points in six).

Shayne Gostisbehere and Jakob Chychrun make their mark on both ends of rink
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere is dominating his series against the Washington Capitals in an extremely impressive way. During Game 2, he netted a power-play goal, took six shots on goal, and registered a team-leading nine shot attempts. For the series, he has eight shots and leads Carolina's power play in shot attempts (six) and shots on goal (four).


Shaybe Gostisbehere has five playoff points, four of them on the power play. He's also showing excellent control in the offensive zone, the leader among skaters at 54.2% of his ice time there. On the power play, he leads defensemen in time spent and ranks second overall in distance traveled (4.36 miles).


On the Capitals' side, defenseman Jakob Chychrun has emerged as a defensive force to be reckoned with. Chychrun is handling pressure well despite Carolina's heavy shot advantage. He's also one of the fastest defensemen left in the playoffs, with a top skating speed of 22.41 mph. He's fourth among defensemen tied with two high-danger shots on goal.


With the Oilers' penalty kill in disarray allowing the most power-play goals (11) and worst kill percentage (59.3%) Olofsson's importance is greater than ever.


Also Read: The Heartwarming "Lion King" Moment With Shayne Gostisbehere's Son Steals Show After Carolina Hurricanes Win