Dein erstes Forum » Tampa Bay three victories in four games

SAN JOSE Aaron Ekblad Jersey , Calif. (AP) The San Jose Sharks are closing in on a seven-year contract with Evander Kane that will keep the high-scoring forward off the free-agent market.A person familiar with the negotiations says the contract is expected to be finalized on Wednesday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday night on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been completed. Sportsnet first reported the two sides were close to an agreement.Kane, who turns 27 in August, was acquired from Buffalo at the trade deadline. Under the terms of that trade, the Sabres will now get a first-round pick in 2019 instead of a second-rounder because Kane signed with San Jose. The selection is lottery-protected, so it could be moved to 2020.Kane’s status was one of the biggest questions heading into this offseason for the Sharks, who were knocked out of the playoffs in six games in the second round against eventual Western Conference champion Vegas.Star Joe Thornton is the other prominent potential free agent on the team but has said he’s willing to come back on a reduced one-year deal.Kane had issues off the ice and with teammates at times during his stints with Winnipeg and Buffalo, but melded well with a veteran Sharks team and got the opportunity to go to the postseason for the first time in his career.”He’s fit in well Aleksander Barkov Jersey ,” teammate Logan Couture said after the season ended. ”You don’t listen to what people say about him before. Getting to know him over these last few months he’s a great teammate. He cares and he wants to win. He was fun to play with.”Kane made an immediate impact in San Jose, stepping right onto the top line with captain Joe Pavelski and helping ease the loss of Thornton, who went down with a season-ending knee injury in January. Kane used his speed and physical play to deliver nine goals and five assists in 17 games and spark an eight-game winning streak that sent San Jose to the playoffs.Kane shined in the first round with three goals and an assist during a sweep against Anaheim. But he struggled a bit against the Golden Knights, slowed by injuries to his knee and shoulder that lingered from the end of the regular season.He had one goal and a minus-5 rating in five games against Vegas. He missed Game 2 of that series when he was suspended for cross-checking Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.Kane finished last season with 29 goals and 25 assists, his second-most productive season to his 30-goal, 27-assist campaign for the Jets in 2011-12. Kane has 186 goals and 168 assists in 574 career games since entering the NHL as the fourth overall pick by Atlanta in 2009.— TAMPA, Fla. — While the Tampa Bay Lightning wait for All-Stars Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov to find an early-season groove Evgenii Dadonov Jersey Kids , they have others who can carry the load.The Detroit Red Wings, meanwhile, are just trying to find any kind of a spark to get their season moving in the right direction as they enter Thursday’s game in Tampa.Last season, the Lightning bolted to the top of the standings behind the play of Stamkos and Kucherov — Stamkos had 24 points in October while Kucherov had 13 goals. In the opening four games this season, the duo has combined for just one goal and four assists.Article continues below ...But Tampa Bay’s scoring depth runs deep. Tyler Johnson, coming off a hat trick performance in Tuesday’s victory against Carolina, and Brayden Point — both former All-Stars — have provided an offensive boost to give Tampa Bay three victories in four games to start the season.A reunion of Johnson with linemates Ondrej Palat and Kucherov — who set the league on fire in 2014-15 — has helped boost the Lightning offense.“They’re unbelievable players. I love playing with them http://www.officialhockeypanthersshop.com/authentic-adidas-james-reimer-jersey ,” Johnson said of being back with his linemates. “It kind of just makes the game easier, it kind of slows it down, we get some opportunities. I think as everything progresses, we’re going to get a little bit closer and closer and be able to work and kind of progress on a few things and I think we can be better. “Hopefully we can just continue to work on things and work on video and just be on the same page here.”The Lightning are also close to getting back veteran forward and alternate captain Ryan Callahan, who underwent shoulder surgery in May and was expected to be out until mid-November. But Callahan was cleared for contact two weeks ago and is ahead of schedule.Tampa Bay cleared a potential roster spot for Callahan by placing Cory Conacher on waivers — and later signing him to a one-year, one-way contract extension that carries a salary cap hit of $700,000.Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said on Wednesday that Callahan could return to the lineup by Nov. 1 Youth Jamie McGinn Jersey , though he hinted Callahan may be ready before the team returns from its upcoming five-game road trip that starts Saturday in Minnesota.The Red Wings, meanwhile, are off to their worst start since 1985-86 with an 0-4-2 record. Detroit is coming off a 7-3 loss to Montreal on Monday, and on Wednesday claimed forward Jacob De la Rose off waivers from the Canadiens. He will join the team once his visa situation is cleared up.Detroit is looking for any sign to help inject some life in a proud franchise that is down to start the season.“You can’t let your body language be the first thing that other players notice because they are going to jump all over it,” Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin told the Detroit Free Press. “We have to pick ourselves up. Truly the next shift is the most important after a goal and we need to get the puck back and back in their zone and have a productive shift where we are changing the momentum back in our favor. Don’t get frustrated.”