Golden Knights expect challenging series from Sharks with Kane

LAS VEGAS -- The Vegas Golden Knights played the San Jose Sharks twice before the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline and twice after it.
That's two games without Evander Kane in the Sharks lineup and two games with the 26-year-old forward in their lineup.

So the Golden Knights are aware of the difference-maker Kane can be in the Western Conference Second Round, which begins Thursday with Game 1 at Vegas (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS).
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"He's a good player. He was a good pickup at the deadline for them," Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore said. "He adds that skill and speed to their top line, and he's a good power-play guy too."

The Sharks acquired Kane from the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 26 and went 12-6-1 in 19 regular-season games after the trade, including an eight-game winning streak from March 12-26.
Selected by the Atlanta Thrashers with the fourth pick of the 2009 NHL Draft, Kane had 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 17 games for the Sharks in the regular season. He made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut in their four-game sweep of the Anaheim Ducks in the first round, scoring three goals.
"He's fast, big and can obviously score goals," Golden Knights forward William Karlsson said. "[Trading for him] made them a more difficult team to beat. They're definitely a better team now."
Karlsson's line with Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault will be matched up most against Kane, who has been playing on San Jose's first line with Joe Pavelski and Joonas Donskoi.

Kane played the Golden Knights three times in the regular season, including with the Sabres on Oct. 17, when he had a goal and two assists in a 5-4 overtime loss in Las Vegas. In two games for the Sharks, Kane did not have a point.
Vegas went 3-0-1 against San Jose.
"They're a good fast team. They play a strong game," Theodore said. "You saw them take it to Anaheim. They're a good team, but I feel like we've gotten a lot of video on them throughout the regular season on how they play, and I thought we played well against them all year."