BLOG: Kassian primed for playoff push

EDMONTON, AB - The games will be coming thick and fast for the Oilers when the calendar turns over to March.
Forward Zack Kassian, who served the final game of his seven-game suspension on Wedneday, is excited to make his return to the lineup when a 36-day stretch to the end of the season that includes 18 games begins Saturday at Rogers Place for the Oilers against the Winnipeg Jets.
"We should all be excited," Kassian, speaking following an optional Oilers skate on Thursday, said. "We put ourselves in a position to play meaningful hockey in March and we've added some good pieces. I know I'm very excited. I was excited watching them from home and the city should be very excited as well.
"You want to play meaningful hockey. I think you work hard all summer and you train hard for March, April, May and June. That's where we're at right now. The games mean everything and this is the best time to be a hockey player, especially in a market like this."
Kassian felt the craze of Oil Country in the 2016-17 postseason, scoring three times in 13 playoff games and embodying the passion of the entire city in his efforts.
But the right-winger is first setting his sights on chipping in with contributions that are in line with the numbers he posted earlier this campaign that've helped the Windsor, Ontario product reach a new career-high 14 goals and 30 points in 54 games.