NHL star Evander Kane didn’t cheat on his now estranged wife with his model ex-girlfriend — instead, folks close to him claim he only reunited with Mara Teigen after his marriage blew up.

Sources close to Evander and Mara Anna Kane has her timeline mixed up, because they insist Evander and Mara weren’t seeing each other during his marriage. We’re told they definitely rekindled their flame, but only in the wake of Anna’s July 16 divorce filing.

We’re told the San Jose Sharks star and Mara reconnected on social media after not speaking for more than 6 years … and their now infamous trip to Europe was completely spontaneous.

Our sources say Mara’s denying being a homewrecker, and they also claim Evander did NOT abandon his family, despite what his estranged wife has alleged.

We’re told Evander’s moved out of the home he shared with Anna, and is telling people around him he’s been blocked from seeing his daughter — presumably by Anna.

As we reported … Evander also claims his estranged wife was straight-up lying when she accused him of betting on the sport — which could get him in big trouble with the league — and he’s trying to keep their divorce civil.

Anna also claimed Evander’s a deadbeat dad who refuses to provide for their daughter, but our sources say EK definitely wants to see her and loves her very much.

We’re told Mara, who first dated Evander in 2014 — before he married Anna — is very supportive of him being a father and she’s not trying to keep him from his daughter