Evander Kane blames the referees for blowout loss in Game 3

Evander Kane

“The calls are frustrating. They seem to get away with it more than we do,” the veteran forward chirps.

Last night was a evening that the Edmonton Oilers and their fanbase would like to forget.

The Oilers dropped Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers in a 6-1 blowout game full of penalties. The Oilers were taking out their frustrations on the Panthers all night, which worked in favor of the Panthers for the most part.

It was a circus atmosphere inside Florida’s Amerant Bank Arena all evening with fans chanting loudly, throwing plastic rats on the ice and just generally going off all evening long. It was a classic game of Panthers hockey full of hacks, whacks, face washes and scraps and the defending Cup champions lured in their prey like only they can.

There were over 140 minutes in total penalties handed out, thanks mostly to several misconducts handed out late in the 3rd period. Oilers forward Evander Kane factored into much of the fracas and after the game he was very critical of Game 3’s officials.

“They seem to get away with it more than we do. It’s tough to find the line. They’re doing just as much stuff as we are,” the veteran forward said.

More from Kane:

To play Devil’s Advocate for a moment, I’d say that Kane and the Oilers got lured into taking some ill-advised penalties due to the Panthers’ style of game. The Panthers played their gameplan to perfection and frustrated the Oilers along the way.

Were there some calls that seemed a bit light? Certainly, but those things tend to average out if you’re playing the game the right way. When you’re playing from behind and you’re desperate though, things don’t often feel like they’re working in your favor. I think that’s what Kane and the Oilers experienced last night.

Game 4 provides them an opportunity to turn the page and write a new chapter in this Stanley Cup Final.