SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Joe Thornton scored
his first shootout goal since 2007 in the eighth round and the San Jose
Sharks beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 Wednesday night to extend the
home-team dominance in this California rivalry.
Thornton and Joe Pavelski scored in
regulation for the Sharks, who have won nine straight at home against
the Kings including the postseason. In all, the home team has won the
last 14 matchups, including all seven in last spring's playoff series
won by Los Angeles.
Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty scored for
the Kings, who tied a franchise record by earning a point in their 11th
straight game. They also did that in 1973-74 and 2010-11.
Ben Scrivens made 38 saves.
After each team scored three times in
the first seven rounds, Thornton got his first shootout attempt since
the 2009-10 season and stuffed a backhand past Scrivens. It was his
first shootout goal since Dec. 16 2007, against Anaheim.
Antti Niemi then stopped Tyler Toffoli
to seal it. Niemi made 38 saves as San Jose opened a difficult stretch
of three games in four days against top-five teams with a win.
The game was played with the high
intensity expected from two fierce rivals with a recent playoff history
who are at the top of their games. These teams have met twice in the
past three postseasons, with each winning once, including Los Angeles'
triumph in the second round last spring.
Each benefited from a fluky goal, with
San Jose taking a 2-1 lead late in the second period when Thornton took
the puck from Willie Mitchell behind the net and then Scrivens kicked in
a loose puck.
The Kings got the fortunate bounce early
in the third to tie the game when Doughty's centering pass hit
defenseman Scott Hannan's skate and deflected past Niemi for the
equalizer.
Los Angeles then killed off three
successive minor penalties in a span of less than 7 minutes to preserve
the tie and set the stage for the dramatic finish.
The Kings jumped on top early when
Dwight King knocked down Tomas Hertl on the opening shift and played a
pass off the end boards to Carter, who banged it past Niemi just 18
seconds into the game.
Niemi prevented Los Angeles from adding
to that lead when he stopped Mike Richards' backhand attempt on a
2-on-0 break after Richards stole the puck from Dan Boyle.
The Sharks then dominated the second
half of the period, but Scrivens stopped all 18 shots in the first to
preserve a 1-0 lead.
Pavelski tied it early in the second
when he got to a loose puck in the slot and lifted it over Scrivens for
his ninth of the season.
Los Angeles failed to capitalize on a
4-minute power play when Boyle was called for high-sticking Justin
Williams. Despite near constant pressure, Niemi stopped all six shots
during the double minor to the delight of a sellout crowd that chanted
"Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.!" throughout the night.
NOTES:
The Kings went 0 for 4 on the power play and have converted just three
of their last 35 chances. ... Thornton moved into sole possession of
50th place on the career points list with 1,143. ... D Matt Irwin
returned to the lineup for San Jose after being a healthy scratch for
six straight games. Jason Demers sat out.
