Los Angeles Kings work Power Play to get 2-0 lead over San Jose Sharks – NHL Playoffs Update
San Jose might have blown away the competition during the opening round of the 2013 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Playoffs, but it is not as easy anymore against Los Angeles, something which they have certainly come to realise.
The Los Angeles Kings capitalised on three of six power play opportunities and stole Game 2 from state rivals, the San Jose Sharks after a tough 4-3 competition. San Jose performed much better than expectation despite being unable to take advantage of any
four of the added man advantages they received, but were still very alive throughout the matchup.
Being a team that swept the playoffs last year, Los Angeles is well equipped with players who know how to work it when the need arises, something which San Jose lacks.
“I've said this before, experience is one thing and it's another thing to have all that experience together as a group of guys, because that goes a long way when you get yourself in a hole,” LA captain Dustin Brown said, according to ESPN. “We didn't play
a great game tonight but we found a way to win and that's the important thing. We've got to get back to playing our game if we want to continue to have success against the Sharks.”
Jeff Carter showed a strong opening by blasting off single-handedly and scoring his fourth and the first of the night unassisted at 3:06. The Kings’ top defender, Drew Doughty, brought it back home with a power play goal 4:10 into the second but San Jose
got right back up after that.
Patrick Marleau and Brad Stuart took charge by scoring the next two for the visiting team nearly six minutes apart to level the match heading into the final period of regulation. The next 20 minutes became something San Jose never wants to happen every again.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic took the lead nearly midway through for the San Jose Sharks, but Los Angeles had a plan. Dustin Brown, along with Trevor Lewis capitalized on back-to-back power play opportunities just 22 seconds apart to shock the Sharks and give the
18,000 plus fans a reason to roar with joy and amazement.
Game 3 of the Western Conference Semi-finals is scheduled for Saturday, 9 PM ET, but this time on the Sharks turf in San Jose.
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