The NHL suspended Sharks winger Evander Kane for Game 2 of their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Kane cross-checked Golden Knights center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare in the arm, then in the head, with 16:35 remaining in regulation, and the Sharks trailing 5-0. He received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct.
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"[It] is important to note that while Kane asserts he did not intentionally strike at [Bellemare's] head, there are two cross-checks on this play," the NHL's Department of Player Safety said in a video announcing the suspension on Friday.
This is the second suspension by the NHL of Kane's career. He was suspended two games in Dec. 2014 for a hit on then-Anaheim Ducks defenseman Clayton Stoner. The Department of Player Safety said Kane's history was a factor in his one-game suspension.
Since the Sharks acquired Kane in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 26, he's scored a team-leading 12 goals. The 26-year-old is tied for the team lead with three goals this postseason.
San Jose's first line will be shorthanded in Game 2, and is already a little banged up. Kane and Joe Pavelski's linemate, Joonas Donskoi, did not skate in practice on Friday but head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters that Donskoi will play in Game 2 on Saturday.
