The Sharks will be heading back to San Jose with a comfortable 2-0 series lead after defeating the Los Angeles Kings Saturday night by a score of 2-1.
Joe Pavelski netted the only goal in the first period at 3:37 with a wrist shot that Jonathan Quick never saw, thanks in part to a Tomas Hertl screen.
Like Game 1, there were plenty of hits delivered between both teams in the first period and throughout the game. Anybody willing to make a guess to what Joonas Donskoi said to the Kings during warmups? #27 couldn’t step on the ice without getting leveled each shift.
Los Angeles picked up their intensity in the second period leading to some strong scoring chances that Martin Jones was able to handle, including a tip-in attempt by Jeff Carter when he split two defenders and found Tanner Pearson’s pass.
Tyler Toffoli and Milan Lucic took simultaneous penalties, roughing and charging respectively, at 8:14 in the period which put the Sharks on a two minute 5-on-3 powerplay. 30 seconds in to the first penalty, Logan Couture found a wide-open net after Quick’s save of a Pavelski’s shot left the net vacant for Couture to clean up the rebound making it 2-0 Sharks. Couture’s first goal of the 2016 playoffs would end up being the game-winner.
Jones made his finest saves at the tail end of the second period when Los Angeles went on their third powerplay of the game after Nick Spaling was called for holding. Jones denied Brayden McNabb’s shot from the blue line and kept his left blocker down to stop Lucic who was in the crease ready to up the rebound.
Vincent Lecavalier scored the Kings’ lone goal at 14:59 of the third period after the puck was loose in front of the net for several seconds during a scrum, making it 2-1 with five minutes to play in the final period and awakening the crowd at Staples Center.
For the second straight game, the Kings pulled Quick for an extra attacker in the final 80 seconds but were unable to score the equalizer, as San Jose escapes Los Angeles with a 2-0 series lead.
GO SHORKS.
Sharks goals (assists): Joe Pavelski (Brent Burns, Joe Thornton), Logan Couture (Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau)
[Fancy Stats] – [Kings Reaction] – [TOI Log] – [Event Summary] – [Faceoff Report] – [PBP Log]
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