In a game that switched leads four times, the visiting Sharks were able to hold off the rival Kings in Game One with a 4-3 win.
The Kings’ Jake Muzzin opened up the scoring early in the first period with the first of two goals to deflect off of a Shark body past Martin Jones. However, setting up the theme of the night, the Sharks came right back four minutes later with a power play goal by Joe Pavelski to tie it at one.
The incredibly physical first period ended at one apiece.
San Jose struck first in the second period with a booming shot by Brent Burns off of a faceoff in the Kings’ zone.
However, momentum shifted quickly when Joel Ward took an interference penalty and Los Angeles tied it up on the power play on a deflection off of Paul Martin in front of the net.
The Sharks battled back and it almost seemed like they had recaptured the lead, but an early whistle disallowed the goal.
Instead it was the Kings who retook the lead on a shorthanded goal by Trevor Lewis with close to three minutes left in the second period.
Talk about a back and forth game. Thomas Hertl equalized the game just 30 seconds later sending both teams to the locker room tied once again.
The Sharks set the scene for the third period right out of the gate as Pavelski notched his second goal of the night spinning off of Anze Kopitar to give the Sharks a 4-3 lead.
The Sharks did a great job, not sitting back throughout the third period. They were able to hold off the Kings, including a desperate 6-on-5 shift by the Kings in the last two minutes where Jones stood strong through a flurry of shots and bodies in front of the net.
The Sharks stay perfect at Staples Center this season and hope to take that road ice advantage into Game Two.
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