DEBUT’S A HIT
Kane gets into the mix right away in first game with new team
Evander Kane received a warm greeting at the airport after his cross-country flight from Buffalo touched down in San Jose.
“Jumbo picked me up,” Kane said Tuesday morning of Joe Thornton, who went to the airport late Monday night. “That was real nice of him, especially with the injury that he has. It’s good to see a familiar face right off the hop. A nice welcome.”
The hospitality didn’t end there for Kane, who did his part Tuesday night to help lead the Sharks to a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Kane was cheered when he was shown on the JumboTron inside SAP Center early in the first period, received more adulation after assisting on the Sharks’ first two goals and had fans out of their seats after a skirmish with Matt Benning midway through the second period.
“Fans were outstanding. A real warm welcome,” Kane said. “It was nice to get the first game here at home and cap it off with a win.”
Through 40 minutes, Kane also had two shots, three hits and two penalty minutes.
In other words, he was noticeable, particularly in one game-changing sequence early in the second period.
Kane checked Benning off the puck in the Oilers’ zone to the right of goalie Cam Talbot. Benning went down in a heap on the hit, Kane got the puck back and sent it toward the net, where Joe Pavelski deflected it in for his 16th goal of the season at the 1:20 mark.
“It was tricky, but they hard-rimmed it, and it hit the ref,” Kane said. “(Benning) kind of stopped quickly and lost his balance, and I just kind of bumped him a little bit. Probably looked worse than it was but was able to create the turnover, and we put it in the back of the net.”
It was the first of four unanswered goals for the Sharks, who ended a three-game losing skid and begin their six-game homestand on a positive note.
Pavelski had a goal and two assists, and goalie Martin Jones finished with 24 saves.
“Second period, that was one of our best periods in a while,” Pavelski said. “I think (Kane) was a big part of that. That shift where he kind of blew (Benning) up in the corner, created that loose puck, and
we scored. It really got the crowd into it, really got the team going again.”
Justin Braun, Timo Meier and Logan Couture also scored in the second period for San Jose, which held on to second place in the Pacific Division. Chris Tierney added an emptynetter in the final minute to round out the scoring.
Kane was acquired Monday from Buffalo in a deal just before the NHL trade deadline that saw the Sharks send two conditional draft picks to the Sabres and center Danny O’Regan,
Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said he’d use Kane in all situations, including potentially the first power play unit. Kane averaged over 19 minutes of ice time per game the last five-plus season, including 19:23 in 61 games with the Sabres this season.
Tuesday, Kane played 16:34, with the Sharks largely rolling four lines all game.
The Sharks were looking any type of offensive spark after they scored just seven goals — all at even strength — on their just-completed 1-2-1 trip. The Sharks had not scored with the man advantage in nine straight games, going 0 for 20 in that time.
Kane, 26, should help. He entered Tuesday already ranking second on the Sharks with 20 goals this season, and nine of his 40 points on the year have come on the power play.
Kane has all the motivation he needs.
Besides playing for a new contract — he’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer — Kane wants to help the Sharks get into the playoffs, and in the process, show everyone that he can seamlessly fit into a new environment.
“I kind of come from not playing so much meaningful hockey to playing some meaningful hockey,” Kane said. “Obviously you get a little more amped up, and I just wanted to change the game any way I can. It’s good to get on the board and contribute offensively and also add some other elements.”
After Tuesday, the Sharks continue their homestand against Chicago, Columbus, St. Louis, Washington and Detroit over the span of 13 days. That doesn’t guarantee much in terms of points, but it will be nice for the Sharks to get a chance to catch their breath.
• Willie O’Ree, the first black player to reach the NHL, dropped the ceremonial first puck. O’Ree, 82, was the Bay Area in celebration of the 60th anniversary of being the first black player to play an NHL game and as part of the NHL’s Hockey Is For Everyone month.