SAN JOSE, Calif. — Brandt Clarke scored the game-winning goal in the third period, and the Los Angeles Kings held off a comeback by the San Jose Sharks to win 4-3 at SAP Center on Tuesday.
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov stretches out to make a kick save on a shot from Adrian Kempe (9) during third period action – Photo by Jack Lima
Clarke walked freely down the right wing, and his wrist shot beat Yaroslav Askarov over the glove at 13:20.
“The D-man was closing so I knew I had to get a shot off and [I hit] my spot,” Clarke said.
Clarke also had an assist for the Kings (5-3-3), who have won four of their past five games and extended their point streak to six games (4-0-2). Corey Perry had a goal and an assist, and Jeff Malott and Drew Doughty also scored. Darcy Kuemper made 37 saves.
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov makes a save as Kings forward Adrian Kempe (9) attempts to provide a screen with Timothy Liljegren (53) providing defensive support – Photo by Jack Lima
“There’s no question we didn’t deserve those two points, but there have been times this season we have, and we’ve been on the short end of a goaltending performance ourselves, but we’ll take it,” Kings coach Jim Hiller said.
Philipp Kurashev and Alexander Wennberg each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks (2-6-2), who tied the game in the third period after trailing 3-0. Will Smith also scored for San Jose, and Askarov made ten saves.
Sharks forward William Eklund (72) loses his helmet in a scrum along the boards – Photo by Jack Lima
“The result stinks, but I thought we played really hard, did some really good things for our most complete game of the year,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said.
Perry put the Kings in front 1-0 at 10:54 of the first period. Clarke’s shot from the top of the right circle tipped off Collin Graf’s stick and got behind Askarov. Perry stuffed the loose puck in at the goal line.
Malott pushed the lead to 2-0 at 3:21 of the second period. On a 2-on-1, Mallot walked down the right wing and opted to shoot and beat Askarov on the short side over the blocker.
Sharks forward Will Smith moves the puck up ice – Photo by Jack Lima
Doughty scored to make it 3-0 at 6:43 with a wrist shot from the right circle, going short side into the top corner. The goal tied Doughty with Rob Blake for the most goals in franchise history by a defenseman (161).
“I looked up to Blake as a kid. He’s one of my favorite (defensemen), and it is cool to be with him there,” Doughty said.
Smith scored to make it 3-1 at 15:33 after Macklin Celebrini sent a perfect cross-crease pass to Smith for a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle.
Sharks forward Jeff Skinner (53) looks for a rebound off Kings goalie Darcy Kemper as Joel Armia (40) provides support – Photo by Jack Lima
Kurashev cut it to 3-2 at 17:16. William Eklund found Wennberg at the right post, and his spinning pass went to Kurashev at the left post for the easy one-timer.
“On the goal, great play by Eklund and Wennberg there, and just had to tap it in. It was a nice play,” Kurashev said.
Referee Kyle Rehman climbs on top of the net to get a better view of the puck location – Photo by Jack Lima
Wennberg tied the game 3-3 at 4:48 of the third period. Kurashev stepped from the left post out in front and found a wide-open Wennberg at the left circle for the wrist shot.
NOTES: Celebrini’s assist gave him a five-game point streak (11 points; five goals, six assists). He has six assists in his past four games. … San Jose forward Tyler Toffoli played in his 900th NHL game. … The Kings are 5-1-2 on the road.
Kings’ goalie Darcy Kuemper stops a shot from Sharks center Will Smith (2) – Photo by Jack Lima
Kings’ goalie Darcy Kuemper makes a kick save as Philipp Kurashev (96) and Michael Misa (77) look for the rebound – Photo by Jack Lima
Kings’ goalie Darcy Kuemper dives in an attempt to cover the puck on a shot by Philipp Kurashev (96) – Photo by Jack Lima
Kings’ forwards Jeff Malott (left) and Corey Pery (10) screen Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov on a shot by Drew Doughty (8) that resulted in the Kings third goal – Photo by Jack Lima
Kings’ forward Kevin Fiala (22) takes a shot on Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov as Vincent Desharnais (5) provided defensive support – Photo by Jack Lima
Kings’ forward Jeff Malott (left) celebrates his second period goal with teammates Alex Turcotte (15) and Corey Perry (10) – Photo by Jack Lima
Kings’ forward Jeff Malott (39) and Sharks’ defenseman Vincent Desharnais (5) battle for the puck behind the net – Photo by Jack Lima
Kings’ forward Brandt Clarke (92) fires a shot past goalie Yaroslav Askarov to give the Kings a 4-3 lead in the third period – Photo by Jack Lima
Kings’ defenseman Joel Edmundson (6) attempts to block a shot from Sharks forward Tyler Toffoli (73) on goalie Darcy Kuemper – Photo by Jack Lima
Kings’ defenseman Drew Doughty (8) slides in an attempt to block a shot from Sharks center Philpp Kurashev (96) on goalie Darcy Kuemper – Photo by Jack Lima
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