Pavelski lead San Jose Sharks past Los Angeles Kings, 3-2: NHL Update
Joe Pavelski lit the lamp in the extra-session to lift the San Jose Sharks to a 3-2 victory against the Los Angeles Kings, at the HP Pavilion on Thursday night.
Dany Heatley and Logan Couture each also hit the net for San Jose, who had dropped five of its past six games played in this season. Antti Niemi finished the game in net, turning away 33 shots to earn the victory.
Justin Williams and Dustin Brown both found the back of the net and had one assist for Los Angeles, which has won just one contest since going to the Stanley Cup finals and completed the regular season with 98 points. Jonathan Quick played well in loss, turning aside 42-of-45 shots.
San Jose got the scoring of the game started just 28 seconds into the opening period, when Heatley took a pass from Ryane Clowe and fired a backhanded shot from in front that found its way to the net for the quickest goal from the start of a game in the franchise history.
The Sharks continued to add pressure on the Kings throughout the first session and outshot the Kings 14-3.
After being completely pressurized for the first 26 minutes, Los Angeles turned the tables on San Jose by knotting the game at 1-1 about seven minutes into the second period.
It happened so when Niclas Wallin was whistled for delay of play, providing Los Angeles its third power-play of the game. The Kings set up the goal when Couture’s snap-shot went wide of the net on a three-on-one opportunity, but Williams grabbed the puck and skated the other way on an odd-man rush. He then swept a cross-ice pass to Brown, who ripped a one-timer into the net.
Couture put the Sharks on top, 2-1, again just three minutes later, as he rushed down the left wing, beat Drew Doughty to the outside, avoided a hip-check and unleashed a powerful shot through Quick's pads.
The Kings then took command of the play for the rest of the period, pulling the game even at 2-2 with more than three left in the second period. The goal came when Williams skated with the loose puck and buried it home before Niemi even realised where the puck was.
Niemi stopped Kyle Clifford’s shot early in the last period that remained scoreless. Los Angeles then killed off a penalty late in the last period.
The Kings then got a chance to score in the extra session, but Brad Richardson’s tip on a rebound just went wide from the side of the net. Doughty was sent for a questionable trip with about two minutes remaining in regulation but the Sharks were unable to take advantage.
Pavelski finally sealed the win at 3-2 with about five minutes left in overtime. The play was set up by Kyle Wellwood, who began the rush, skating with the puck down the left-wing side from centre ice. He then moved up at the left circle and slipped it back into the low slot, where Pavelski blasted a wrist shot inside the right post.
"Pavs is a tremendous player for us," the Sharks' head Coach, Todd McLellan said. "We count on him in so many situations. He's really recognized at this time of year as a guy who steps up his play and scores some huge goals."
Quick faced 14 shots in extra-session and Niemi turned away all nine shots he faced in overtime.
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