WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Evander Kane was run out of town 11 months ago for what teammates perceived to be a selfish, me-first persona. The Buffalo Sabres winger gave the Winnipeg Jets and their raucous fans quite the take-that in his return Sunday.
Kane endured game-long taunts and eschewed an empty-net dagger he surely wanted so he could pass the puck to Sam Reinhart. And on top of that, it was to a teammate looking for his first career hat trick. Reinhart calmly put the puck into the net, clinching the Sabres’ 4-2 win in MTS Centre.
The play was the epitome of unselfishness, especially when you consider Kane has now gone a season-high seven games without a goal himself.