Sharks expect to rebound in Game 2 against Golden Knights without Kane

LAS VEGAS -- Not only will the San Jose Sharks be trying to rebound from a result that matched the worst Stanley Cup Playoff loss in their history, they will have to do so without forward Evander Kane in Game 2 of the Western Conference Second Round.
Kane was suspended one game Friday for cross-checking Vegas Golden Knights forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare in a 7-0 loss in Game 1 on Thursday.

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Bellemare did not practice and was being evaluated by the Golden Knights medical staff. Game 2 of the best-of-7 series is here Saturday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS).
Before the NHL Department of Player Safety announced its decision, Sharks coach Peter DeBoer spoke about getting ready for Game 2 while not knowing if Kane would be available.
"It's difficult, but it's not," DeBoer said. "It's like an injury. If he's out, the next man up. We'll stick somebody else in there. It doesn't change our preparation."
Kane has four points (three goals, one assist) in five playoff games. Two of those goals came against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of the first round, his NHL playoff debut.
Kane has been on the Sharks' top line with forward Joonas Donskoi and center Joe Pavelski. Donskoi did not practice Friday, but DeBoer said it was a maintenance day.
Kane spoke with the media before the hearing but declined to get into any of the specifics of the incident. After Game 1, he said: "I'm not a dirty player by any means."
Kane, who had three shots on goal and was minus-2 in Game 1, was assessed a major penalty for cross-checking and given a game misconduct 3:25 into the third period with the Sharks trailing 5-0.

He said there was a collective disappointment in the Sharks dressing room.
"That wasn't us," he said. "We talked about it today. We watched some tape. That's flushed now."
Kane's suspension won't impact center Joe Thornton's status for Game 2. Thornton, who has been out since Jan. 23 recovering from knee surgery, continues to progress but won't be in the lineup.
"Joe is coming along well," DeBoer said. "Every day he's getting a little bit better. He's looking a little bit better on the ice. He's not going to play next game."
Said Thornton: "Nothing's changed. Eventually it just has to get a little bit stronger. Day to day, still. … The good thing is that it's getting better.
"The boys have had good bounce-back ability all year now. … I've been sitting on the sideline for a while now. Obviously, you want to help out the fellas, but they're doing a great job, having a great playoffs, so not worried about them at all."
The Sharks had issues with the speed of the Golden Knights, a significant contrast from the first round against the slower Ducks.
"Yes, they're a fast team, but we've played fast teams and we've had success against fast teams," DeBoer said. "We didn't do what we needed to do. We didn't manage the puck properly. … Beyond that, we didn't win enough battles when you take out the X's and O's of the game. They were the hungrier team."
The result was the Sharks' worst playoff loss since May 11, 1995, when the Calgary Flames defeated them 9-2 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
"We played as poorly as we've played last night, before," DeBoer said. "It's not the worst game in the history of the San Jose Sharks. It might be on the scoreboard in playoff history. I don't think it's the worst game we've played in the history of hockey.
"It got away from us. They got seven goals. We didn't get any. It was ugly. We've played poorly before. We'll get it back."