SAN JOSE – At this time a year ago, Sharks winger Evander Kane had only played for San Jose for a couple of months and was gearing up for the first playoff series of his professional career. Heading into his second go-round, he isn’t changing how he preps for the NHL’s “second season.”
“Probably the same way I have for every game in the regular season,” Kane told NBC Sports California. “Obviously there’s a little more on the line and games mean a lot more this time of the year. That always makes it a little more fun.”
Fast forward to April 2019 and No. 9 has become one of Team Teal’s biggest impact players, whether he’s finding the back of the net or defending his teammates, Kane always seems to make his presence felt. Now, coming off a 30-goal campaign, Kane is preparing for what is sure to be a contentious series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
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“He’s built for the playoffs,” Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer said, complimenting the winger. “I think there was a long stretch this year where he was our best forward. He’s been a pleasure to coach. He’s been a good teammate.”
Kane’s mix of skill and physicality can no doubt be a difference-maker for San Jose in Round 1 against a heavy-hitting Vegas team, who bumped the Sharks from last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs in the second round.
“We’re not going to be inviting each other over for Sunday night dinner,” Kane said of the Golden Knights. “We played them last year and they bounced us out of the playoffs. So that gives us some motivation.”
Although Vegas has only been part of the league for two regular seasons, they very quickly developed a reputation as a team that can get under their opponents’ skin. Their last contest between the two in San Jose on March 30 was no exception. The game included 42 total penalty minutes, two fighting majors and a game misconduct to Vegas’ agitator Ryan Reaves.
But Kane, who received a one-game suspension in last year’s playoffs for a cross-check on Vegas’ Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, stayed out of the sin bin in that March 30 game and scored a third-period goal instead. When asked what the key was to not let the Golden Knights get a rise out of the Sharks, Kane – who was also the regular season’s league-leader in penalty minutes – said Vegas’ goal of frustrating San Jose shouldn’t be a problem for him and his teammates.
San Jose Sharks
“I think we did a pretty good job the last time we played them,” Kane said. “I’m sure it’s going to be very similar to that type of a game -- the extracurricular. I think we’ve done a good job all year of staying disciplined and playing between the whistles and letting our play do the talking.”
Interestingly enough, Kane registered only 29 of this 153 penalty minutes on the regular season on home ice, where the Sharks will play the first two games of the series. When he brought the stat up to the media after Tuesday’s morning skate, he tried to suppress a chuckle.
“I think I just want to be on my best behavior for the hometown fans,” he said with a smile. “It’s part of the game and part of the emotions.”
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Kane and his teammates will do their best to keep those emotions in check, though, and focus on the other elements of Vegas’ game that will challenge them. With a skilled offense and a stingy defense, Kane knows San Jose is going to be grinding to get the better of the opponent.
“Vegas is a team that doesn’t give you a whole lot,” he said. “They’re a really good defensive group and you have to work for everything you get.”