Surprise Appearance by Fan-Favorite May Have Just Helped the Oilers' Comeback in This Series

We all have our bad days now and then, especially in the playoffs, and especially if your team is the Edmonton Oilers. Going into Sunday night, the Oilers trailed 2-1 in the series against the Los Angeles Kings.

They'd closed the gap with a 7-4 beating on Friday night, but tension was still running high. So it's comforting to see someone you're familiar with when you need a pick-me-up, and that's exactly what happened.

Late in the first period, Rogers Place spectators were treated to a highlight reel on the Jumbotron of iconic playoff moments by former Oiler Zack Kassian.

A few minutes later, the camera panned to Kassian himself, watching from a suite. The crowd erupted.

After that moment, the Oilers took off. Momentum was in their favor, and they ultimately won the game in thrilling fashion, with a score of 4-3 near the end of the first overtime period.

It's not rare to see Kassian at the arena today, as he's part of the Oilers organization now, working as a pro scout. During his playing career with Edmonton, Kassian was a fan favorite for his hard, physical style of play.

In 37 playoff games with the Oilers, he had six goals and three assists, often pumping up the team and the crowd with his physicality and willingness to get in someone's head after the puck had been blown dead.

Since his official retirement from the NHL last summer, Kassian transitioned to his new off-ice position, but clearly, his presence in Edmonton still cuts deep with the fanbase.