Martin Jones made 33 saves, and Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski, and Joe Thornton each had three points as the Sharks beat the rival Los Angeles Kings 5-3 in their final game before the holiday break.
Los Angeles dominated the first period, jumping out to a 2-0 lead 4:32 into the game. Tyler Toffoli opened the scoring just 1:40 in, as he gathered a loose puck off of a face-off in the Sharks’ defensive zone and fired it through Justin Braun’s legs and passed a screened Martin Jones. Just under three minutes later, the Kings again capitalized off of an offensive zone face-off win, as Trevor Lewis redirected Dustin Brown’s shot off of the post and past Jones.
San Jose would get a goal back 12:12 into the opening frame, as Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton redirected Brenden Dillon’s point shot by Jonathan Quick to cut the lead to one. The score held at 2-1 going into the second period thanks to Martin Jones, who stopped 19 of 21 shots in the period. Los Angeles out-shot the Sharks 21-6, and out-attempted them 24-15 at even strength.
The Sharks started to find their game in the second period, but couldn’t capitalize on two early power plays. With just over two minutes to go in the period, the Kings regained a two-goal advantage as Tyler Toffoli scored his second of the game on a two-on-one. Brent Burns turned the puck over in the offensive zone creating the odd-man rush, and couldn’t track Toffoli in time. But Burns would make up for it 57 seconds later, ripping a shot from the point through a screen in front, cutting Los Angeles’ lead to one going into the third period.
After looking so listless in the second, the Sharks’ power play sprung to life in the third, and gave the Sharks the lead. Joe Pavelski tied the game, showing off his signature hands by redirecting Brent Burns’ shot from the point with 13:54 to go in regulation. 1:32 later, Pavelski added his second of the night, roofing the eventual game-winner off of a beautiful behind-the-net feed from Joe Thornton. Burns, continuing to bounce back from his giveaway, drew a slashing penalty on Milan Lucic (who is quickly endearing himself as one of the Sharks’ least favorite opponents) to give the Sharks the man advantage.
The Sharks withheld a furious Kings rally after Pavelski’s goal, as Martin Jones continued to shut the door. Shortly after the Kings pulled Jonathan Quick, Brent Burns iced the game with an empty-net goal to give the Sharks a 5-3 lead, and ensure a second place standing in the division headed into the holiday break.
Sharks goals (assists): Joe Thornton (Joe Pavelski, Brenden Dillon), Brent Burns (Joe Thornton, Joonas Donskoi), Joe Pavelski [PP] (Brent Burns), Joe Pavelski [PP] (Joe Thornton), Brent Burns [EN]
[Fancy Stats] – [Kings Reaction] – [TOI Log] – [Faceoff Report] – [Event Summary] – [PBP Log]
Fear the Fin’s Three Stars
1) Martin Jones
2) Joe Pavelski
3) Joe Thornton
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