Sharks' Kane suspended 3 games for abuse of official

San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane received an automatic three-game suspension for physical abuse of an official during Sunday night's preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Sharks can appeal the suspension, which would push the decision to commissioner Gary Bettman.

San Jose opens the regular season Wednesday night in Las Vegas. Kane, 28, was involved in a third-period scuffle with Golden Knights defenseman Deryk Engelland when linesman Kiel Murchison entered the picture.

Murchison grabbed Kane by the jersey and both fell to the ice. Kane appeared to shove Murchison when he stood up, prompting his ejection and the ensuing suspension. Kane, who led the NHL with 153 penalty minutes last season, called getting tossed "an absolute joke."

"I get kicked out of the game for getting jumped from behind by a referee. I've never seen a ref take five strides," he said after the Sharks lost 5-1. "If you look at (Murchison's) face, he's getting all this power and he's trying to drive me into the ice, which is what he did. That's unbelievable. Talk about abuse of an official? How about abuse of a player? It's an absolute joke." Kane tied his career high with 30 goals and added 26 assists in 75 games with the Sharks in 2018-19.

Entering his 11th NHL season, he has 410 points (216 goals, 194 assists) in 649 games with the Sharks, Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets and Atlanta Thrashers. 

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