Bigger Loss in Game 4: Nazem Kadri or Evander Kane?

Game 4 of the Western Conference Final between the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers will come without a couple of key players.

Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri and Oilers forward Evander Kane will both be absent after a penalized hit by Kane resulted in him being suspended for one game and Kadri being ruled out for the remainder of the series.

This comes at a key moment, as Game 4 is the first elimination game of the series. Colorado has an opportunity to punch its ticket to the Stanley Cup Final, but which team has a larger disadvantage as a result of its missing forward?

For the Avs, Kadri had a career year with 87 points this season and has continued to play at a high level in the playoffs. His 14 points (six goals and eight assists) are tied for the fourth-best mark on the team this postseason.

He has been a perfect complement to the Avalanche stars, and now his team will have to find a way to replace his production without becoming too dependent upon the top line.

Will Kadri or Kane prove to be the bigger absence in Game 4?

On the other hand, no player has more goals in these playoffs than Kane. He has tallied 13 goals and 17 total points in this postseason and is third among Oilers skaters in points.

He has been a productive player since signing with Edmonton, and this is where his team needs him. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have a combined six points in this series so far, which is about what they were contributing individually in a three-game span in the first two rounds.

Cale Makar and others have been able to slow Edmonton’s superstars, which makes this the exact situation in which the Oilers would lean on Kane. Unfortunately for them, with the season on the line, they will be unable to do that.

While Kadri was the more impressive player this season, Colorado has the depth to pick up his production. The same cannot be said for Edmonton, making this the Oilers’ disadvantage.

If McDavid and company can pick up a win, Kane will be back for Game 5. If not, it will be game over for the Oilers on Monday night.