Klim Kostin completes the Gordie Howe hat trick by beating the wheels off Zack Kassian

In case you missed it last night, the Edmonton Oilers absolutely beat the wheels off the lowly Arizona Coyotes thanks in large part to another 4 point performance from captain Connor McDavid. 

But, while McDavid and fellow former 1st overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (three points on the night, as well) drew most of the Coyotes' attention, it was Evander Kane replacement Klim Kostin who really got under the team's skin. Kostin, if you don't know, is a former 1st round pick of the St. Louis Blues who was picked up by the Oilers earlier for fellow Russian Dmitri Samorukov in a one for one deal. Since then has been splitting time with the Oilers and their AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors, but last night he had by far his best game as an Oiler, scoring a Gordie Howe hat trick in the Oilers' victory.

With a goal and an assist on the game already, Kostin was accosted (a-Kost-ed?) by former Oilers forward Zack Kassian and goaded into a fight that Kassian now probably regrets.

Check out Kostin split Kassian open with a HUGE right hand in a pretty quick scrap:

Ouch...

Gotta say, I've always liked Kassian as a player but he just doesn't have the speed and skill to keep up with the game these days. He's always been a 'do whatever it takes' kind of player and gave the Oilers his blood, sweat and tears for seven seasons before being shipped to the Island of Misfit Toys in Arizona.

As for Kostin, I really think the Oilers might have a diamond in the rough here. He's just 23 years old and has managed to put up good numbers in the AHL throughout his career, but hasn't been able to hold on to a full-time NHL job. With Kane out of the lineup long-term due to a wrist injury, the Oilers have been forced to give Kostin a good look and the kid is doing an admirable job of things. While I don't suspect that he'll remain in Kane's position for the rest of the season, he has certainly established himself as a regular, every day NHLer in my eyes.