Sharks at Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights have experienced a string of firsts in their record-setting expansion season but jitters have not been among them. The bright lights of the postseason have done nothing to slow the Golden Knights, who look to take a 2-0 lead over visiting San Jose on Saturday in their Western Conference semifinal after thrashing the Sharks 7-0 in the series opener.
San Jose coach Peter DeBoer cited a "laundry list of issues" in the Game 1 beating, a list that got longer when Sharks forward Evander Kane received a one-game suspension Friday for cross-checking Vegas defenseman Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. "It's the first adversity we've faced in the playoffs. It's on us to respond now," DeBoer said. "You don't get extra points for winning by a touchdown like they did. We have to be better." The Golden Knights scored seven goals in the four-game sweep of Los Angeles in the first round but matched the total in the series opener, essentially delivering an early knockout punch by scoring four times in a span of just over seven minutes in the first period. "We did good things," said Golden Knights forward James Neal, who capped the scoring with a power-play tally. "For us, I think we have to look at them, they're going to be a hungry team, they're going to be a lot better. They'll be putting that one behind them pretty quick and looking to be a better hockey team so we gotta be ready."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS
ABOUT THE SHARKS: Kane was San Jose's big-ticket acquisition from Buffalo at the trade deadline and scored three times in the first-round sweep of Anaheim after netting nine goals in 17 regular-season games. He told reporters after Thursday's game that he was "not a dirty player" and said there "no intent" on his hit. The NHL Department of Player Safety disagreed in announcing his punishment, saying: "This cross-check occurs well after the whistle is blown and serves no purpose other than a strike to an opponent's head. This is not a hockey play." Martin Jones allowed four goals in four games versus the Ducks but was chased 3 1/2 minutes into the second period after surrendering five goals on 13 shots.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS: The early cushion certainly made his job easier, but Marc-Andre Fleury became the 14th goaltender in history -- and first in 14 years -- to record three shutouts in his team's first five playoff games, even taking time to join the T-Mobile Arena fans in the wave. "I try not to think too much," said Fleury, who has a staggering .982 save percentage and 0.54 goals-against average in the playoffs. "Just get out there and play my best, try to help these guys any way I can." While Vegas received goals from seven different players, its top line of Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith accounted for nine points, with Smith collecting six assists over a four-game point streak.
OVERTIME
1. Fleury earned his 13th career postseason shutout, tying Turk Broda for ninth in NHL history.
2. Sharks C Joe Thornton cented the No. 1 line at Friday's practice but will not play in Game 2.
3. Bellemare was not at practice Friday and will be evaluated Saturday to determine his availability.