Shootout in the Wild Wild West – Sharks come back to win 3-2, in large part to Kings’ dismal power play

Photo courtesy of [Mr. Plank]

The San Jose Sharks recovered from an early two-goal deficit tonight against the Los Angeles Kings to eventually force overtime, before winning 3-2 in the shootout at the Staples Center.

The Sharks converted on their only power play of the night, while the Kings not only went 0 for 5, but also gave up a game-tying shorthanded goal to Patrick Marleau.

Dan Boyle and Ryane Clowe scored in the shootout against Jason LaBarbera, who replaced Erik Ersberg in the second period after the latter suffered a mysterious lower body injury while deflecting the puck.  Brian Boucher made 26 saves and stopped 2 of 3 Los Angeles shootout attempts.

The Sharks improve to 25-3-2 for 52 points – and have managed to come from behind to gather two points twice in a row, after beating St. Louis 5-4 on Saturday.

FIRST PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS

• Sharks get their first shot off at 0:17; Kings get their first at 0:50.
• Matt Greene scores for L.A. from the blue line.  His shot (assisted by Patrick O’Sullivan and Teddy Purcell) is deflected by Lukas Kaspar’s skate halfway to the net.  Greene’s goal is his first of the season.
• Rob Blake (booed yet again tonight) takes a hooking penalty at 7:43, not long after Marc-Edoaurd Vlasic knocks down Anze Kopitar.  L.A. manages several shots, but the Sharks kill the penalty.
• Nine seconds after going back to even-strength, the Kings score again, taking them up to 2-0.  Teddy Purcell is delivered the puck by Christian Ehrhoff from the boards, and goes to the slot to get it past Boucher for his 2nd career goal, and 1st of the season.  Boucher has let up exactly one goal for every four shots he faces… but would not let any more through for the evening.
• Worth noting – the Kings were 12-4-0 when scoring first, coming into tonight’s game.  The Sharks were 9-1-1 when their opponents scored first.  Obviously something would give tonight.
• The Sharks go on their only power play of the evening when Kyle Quincey is called for hooking at 11:47.  About 90 seconds later, Ryane Clowe cuts the Kings’ lead in half after driving home the rebound from Dan Boyle’s shot.  Marc-Edouard Vlasic notches the extra assist.
• Douglas Murray is called for interference at 14:47, and the Kings (in what would become a constant refrain for the evening) do not manage a single shot on goal during their 5-on-4.
• The Sharks finish the period down on the scoreboard 2-1, down in shots on goal, 10-13, and down in faceoff wins, 7-9.  The only way in which they are ahead (other than power play percentage) is in give-aways – the Sharks 7 to L.A.’s 3…
• Matt Greene, Teddy Purcell and Anze Kopitar are each a plus-2 for the period.  /

SECOND PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS

• After a long delay after the call, Tomas Plihal goes to the box for hooking at 1:58.  The Sharks once again kill the penalty, and keep the Kings from getting a shot on goal.
• At 4:38, Jody Shelley and Raitis Ivanans duke it out to a draw before the referees separate them and send them on their merry ways with 5 penalty minutes apiece.
• After propelling Patrick Marleau’s shot behind the net on a stick reach, Erik Ersberg is visibly limping.  After a stoppage at 6:54, Jason LaBarbera takes over.
• Ryane Clowe is called for tripping at 7:18.  It is the Kings’ 4th power play, and once again, they not only do not convert, but do not get a shot on goal.
• After Boucher covers up Matt Greene’s rebound, pushing and shoving ensues from all sides, at 13:34.
• Dan Boyle gets called for slashing at 15:33.  Kings go on their 5th power play.  Not only do the Kings not get a shot on goal, but they give up a shorthanded goal to Patrick Marleau, who had broken away up the lefthand boards to best LaBarbera.  The Kings netminder allows the game to be tied on the first direct shot on goal he  faces.
• At the end of the period, the score is tied 2-2.  The shots on goal are 14-18 total (4-5 for the period), L.A., with the Kings also winning in faceoffs, 20-16.   San Jose does lead in hits, however – 24-18 after 40 minutes./

THIRD PERIOD HIGHLIGHTS (scoreless and dull)

• San Jose creeps up in shots, eventually taking the lead in s.o.g., 21-20.
• Douglas Murray lands a hard check on Jarret Stoll.
• Both teams manage shots throughout the period, with San Jose edging the Kings 25-23 at the end of regulation./

OVERTIME

• The Kings put 5 shots on goal, which are thankfully stopped by Boucher.  San Jose does not put up any shots in return before the game heads to the shootout.
• Kings finish ahead of Sharks in faceoff wins, 27 to 26 after 65 minutes./

SHOOTOUT

• Wayne Simmonds misses for the Kings.
• Dan Boyle does NOT miss.
• But neither does Patrick O’Sullivan…
• But then again, neither does Ryane Clowe!
• With a chance to extend the shootout, Teddy Purcell gets his puck poked out beneath him by Brian Boucher, and the Sharks win their 3rd game against the Kings this season./

TOTALLY RANDOM NERD NOTES

• Only Patrick Marleau and Marc-Edouard Vlasic had a plus-rating for San Jose…
• Eight Sharks had a minus-1 rating, including Ryane Clowe and Dan Boyle.
• Not surprisingly, Vlasic led both teams’ players in ice time again, with 26:23.  L.A.’s Drew Doughty was not far behind with 26:02.
• Dan Boyle and Patrick Marleau led all players in shots on goal, with 4 each.
• Purcell’s goal came on his only shot of the game.
• Tom Cavanagh, Lukas Kaspar and Jamie McGinn had just one shot on goal between them (Kaspar’s).  Then again, both Cavanagh and McGinn only saw 4 minutes and change in ice time, compared to Kaspar’s 16:33.
• In need of confirmation – Kaspar was also found playing on the Sharks’ first line.
• Jody Shelley and Raitis Ivanans had only 2:31 and 2:40 in ice time, respectively.  John Zeiler had just 2:51.
• Anze Kopitar led all forwards in ice time, with 24:31.
• OH YEAH – the Sharks’ 52 points in 30 games is some sorta record… and here I was downplaying it and all (thanks to “Section 209” for the reminder).  Guess it was just false humility on my part…/

The Sharks are probably in the air right now, en route to Columbus.  They face the Blue Jackets on Wednesday before heading north to Detroit on Thursday.

GO SHARKS.