Evander Kane and Ryan Reaves have a history, and they don't like each other.
Their mutual distaste for each other finally hit a boiling point Sunday night when Kane and Reaves finally dropped gloves and fought during the third period of the Vegas Golden Knights' 6-3 win over the Sharks in Game 3 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series.
Ahead of Tuesday night's critical Game 4, Kane was asked about the skirmish with his nemesis and absolutely scorched Reaves in the process.
"For the so-called toughest guy in the league, I don't think he landed a punch," Kane said. "At times, I thought I was fighting the Muffin Man. Didn't expect that, I expected a lot more of a battle.
"I was able to handle him. I think he lost a bit of his allure in terms of toughness."
Kane didn't stop there, though.
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Reaves told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Kane, "gets 10 feet tall when I'm not on the ice, and when I'm out there, he doesn't seem to do much. That's how he's been every time I've played him in my career. I don't expect it to stop."
Kane threw another verbal haymaker in response.
"He looked pretty short to me when he hit the ice there," Kane said. "He wasn't much more than a foot tall. For a guy who plays three-and-a-half to four minutes a night, he sure does a lot of talking.
"I think he thinks it's the WWE, and I think he's probably going to end up there pretty soon with the way his game looks. I think he's got another year left on his deal, and I'm sure Vince McMahon will be giving him a call pretty soon."
Reaves also fired a shot at Joe Thornton, who was suspended for Game 4 for an illegal hit in Game 3, over his age.
Kane had his teammates back and put Reaves in a proverbial bag to end finish the session.
"To chirp Jumbo's vision - the guy has over 1,000 assists - that doesn't seem too bright," Kane said. "One of the best passers, one of the best guys with vision on the ice to ever play the game. It just shows a lot about his hockey knowledge and his hockey IQ. Clearly, it's lacking."
Put some ice on it, Ryan.
While Kane won the war of words and the on-ice skirmish, the Sharks still find themselves trailing the series 2-1 ahead of Tuesday night's Game 4 in Sin City.
[RELATED: How Thornton's suspension affects Sharks lineup in Game 4]
With its season teetering on the brink, San Jose will need to harness the aggression Kane showed toward Reaves and channel it into crisp hockey in order to tie the series.
