After falling behind 2-0 to the Los Angeles Kings, the San Jose Sharks climbed out of the two-goal deficit, but it was the Kings who came away with a 3-2 win in overtime.
Don’t let the record fool you; the Kings came onto the ice ready to play as they generated 15 shots in all situations during the opening period. One of these shots would beat Martin Jones as Ilya Kovalchuk scored on a one-timer in his return from injury. Nonetheless, despite being out shot 15 to 8 by the Kings, the Sharks were able to generate 12 scoring chances, but Jonathan Quick shut the door on each one.
There was a scary moment in the second period when Erik Karlsson delivered a big hit on Kings’ forward Austin Wagner. Wagner left the game with an upper-body injury. Offensively, the Sharks were dominating possession of the puck but couldn’t find the back of the net. The Kings did, making it 2-0 off an Oscar Fantenberg slapshot…or so we thought. The Sharks challenged, saying there was goaltender interference. The refs agreed and it was back to 1-0.
In the third period, the Kings extended their lead with a goal courtesy of Alex Iafallo. Down 2-0, the Sharks were finally able to figure out Quick. Lukas Radil redirected a pass from Timo Meier to get the Sharks their first goal of the afternoon. Then with 30 seconds left in the game, the Sharks tied it with a redirect goal from Joe Pavelski.
In overtime, the Kings generated their scoring chances including a breakaway opportunity for Anze Kopitar, but it was Kovalchuk who ended up with the game-winning goal. It was his second of the game and good for the OT win.
Pregame
It’s a matinee affair as the San Jose Sharks welcome in the Los Angeles Kings for game number two of their current home stand.
After riding a winning streak of five games, the Sharks were unable to extend it to six, falling to the Winnipeg Jets two days ago. Nonetheless, the Sharks are looking to start a new streak and maintain their second place position in the Pacific Division.
Meanwhile, the Kings come in having lost seven out of their last ten games. The coaching change has yet to bring in the results that the team would like to see this season. However, they did defeat the Jets a few days ago, so the Kings are coming into SAP Center on a winning note.
Despite both teams being in two different places in the standings, it’s a rivalry game and records are thrown out the window. Expect a good match-up, but it’s one that the Sharks should win.
Lines
No word yet on how either of these two teams lineups will look like this afternoon so here’s how NHL.com projects the Sharks lineup to look like come puck drop with Martin Jones as the potential starter:
Forwards
Evander Kane — Joe Pavelski — Joonas Donskoi
Tomas Hertl — Logan Couture — Timo Meier
Marcus Sorensen — Joe Thornton — Kevin Labanc
Lukas Radil — Barclay Goodrow — Melker Karlsson
Defense
Radim Simek — Brent Burns
Brenden Dillon — Erik Karlsson
Marc-Edouard Vlasic — Justin Braun
Goalies
Martin Jones
Aaron Dell
As for the Kings, here’s their projected lineup as NHL.com predicts Jonathan Quick will be in net for them:
Forwards
Alex Iafallo — Anze Kopitar — Dustin Brown
Adrian Kempe — Jeff Carter — Tyler Toffoli
Brendan Leipsic — Nate Thompson — Ilya Kovalchuk
Austin Wagner — Michael Amadio — Matt Luff
Defense
Derek Forbort — Drew Doughty
Jake Muzzin — Sean Walker
Daniel Brickley — Oscar Fantenberg
Goalies
Jonathan Quick
Cal Petersen
Where to Watch
Puck drop from SAP Center is at 1:00 p.m. PT/4:00 p.m. ET and can be watched on NBC Sports Network or listened to on 98.5 KFOX. Check back for live updates and reactions.
Hey everyone, Eddie here and I’ll be liveblogging the next chapter in the Los Angeles-San Jose rivarly.
First Period
20:00: Let’s get this game underway!
16:28: Penalty. Timo Meier is called for hooking
15:32: Goal. Ilya Kovalchuk opens up the scoring and it’s 1-0 Kings
11:57: Dustin Brown fights off Brent Burns stick but is unable to beat Martin Jones
10:47: Brenden Dillon with a big hit on Alex Iafallo
7:58: Joe Pavelski had an opening to score but Jonathan Quick is there to stop him
2:56: The Sharks generate a flurry of chances but they are unable to get the puck past Quick
Second Period
17:25: The big hits keep coming as Erik Karlsson dishes out a big hit on Austin Wagner
15:60: Meier with the pass to set up Hertl for a scoring chance but the puck was too hot to handle
11:51: Goal. Oscar Fantenberg fires a slap shot to beat Martin Jones it’s 2-0 Kings
11:51: Review. Sharks challenge for goaltender interference
11:51: Call is overturned, no goal and it goes back to being 1-0 Kings
7:39: Brent Burns fires a shot from the middle of the ice, but cannot beat Quick
5:23: Another scoring chance for the Sharks, this time Joe Pavelski goes to the net but Quick keeps the puck out
4:27: Quick is scrambling around the net but the Sharks were unable to find a lane to get a shot off
3:01: POWER PLAY. Jeff Carter heads to the penalty box for tripping and the Sharks head to the man advantage
1:45: Although they’re short-handed, the Kings are generating scoring chances
1:00: Kings are able to kill the Sharks power play
Third Period
17:04: Marcus Sorensen with a scoring chance but his shot ends up on Quick’s chest for an easy stop
14:45: Goal. No overturning this one as the Kings make it 2-0 courtesy of an Iafallo goal
12:21: Quick doesn’t give up a rebound as he isn’t giving the Sharks second chance opportunities around the net
10:53: Sharks are generated shots and having traffic around the net but Quick is able to scramble and find the loose pucks
9:42: GOAL! Lukas Radil redirects Timo Meier’s pass and the Sharks are finally able to beat Quick and it’s 2-1 Kings
6:27: Jones with a pad save to deny Kopitar and keep the deficit at one for the Sharks
1:51: Donskoi throws the puck to the net for a rebound but Quick is able to cover the puck
1:51: Timeout. Kings use their timeout and Sharks pull Jones for the extra attacker
1:45: Burns with shot from the top of the circle but Quick makes the save
:37.2: Icing for the Kings and the Sharks now use their own timeout
:30.7: GOAL! Joe Pavelski redirects Brent Burns shot to tie the game late
Overtime
4:39: Kopitar with a breakaway chance but shoots it over the net
3:43: Jones denies Tyler Toffoli and the second chance to keep it a tie game
2:31: Goal. Kovalchuk with the game-winner
Final: Sharks 2, Kings 3
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