In San Jose, Jonathan Quick made 29 saves and the visiting Los Angeles Kings thumped the Sharks, 5-2, on Friday.
Mario Ferraro (38) looks to control the rebound as Gabriel Vilardi (13) tries to screen Sharks goalie James Reimer – Photo by Jack Lima
“It was a good road game,” Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said. “When that happens, usually all four lines are involved, all six defensemen, [and the] goaltending was solid.”
LA improved to 12-8-2, and ended a three-game schneid.
Jaret Anderson-Dolan staked the Kings to a 1-0 lead in the first period.
“Feels great,” Anderson-Dolan said. “It’s been a while, so it definitely felt good.”
The lead stood for five minutes until San Jose knotted the game, 1-1, off a strike from Kevin Labanc .
With less than three minutes left on the first period clock, Phillip Danault put the Kings back in front, 2-1.
“I thought our first period got better as it went on, and then they got the power play,” Sharks coach David Quinn said. “Listen, that’s a good team. They’re hard, they’re quick. At times we matched them, and at times we didn’t.”
San Jose dropped to 7-13-3.
“It hurts when you’re playing good hockey, and now we’ve lost four of five here,” San Jose captain Logan Couture said. “So, we’ve got to get back on track.”
LA pushed the advantage to 3-1 on a goal from Victor Arvidsson early in the middle frame.
San Jose scored with 37 seconds left in the second on a goal from Alexander Barabanov to make it 3-2.
“There were good elements to our game,” Quinn said. “But we’re not here to just put together some pieces of a hockey game and feel good about it. We’ve got to win hockey games.”
The Kings hit for two goals in the third period, Rasmus Kupari pushed the lead to 4-2 at 2:51.
Anze Kopitar added an empty-net goal two and half minutes left for the 5-2 final.
James Reimer made 24 saves in the Sharks loss.
“It’s unfortunate that my performance wasn’t up to par tonight,” Reimer said. “It’s too bad. I thought we played hard tonight. Just couldn’t find a way to get some points.”
Photo credit: Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com
Sharks forward Noah Gregor moves the puck around the net – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson during pregame warmups – Photo by Jack Lima
Nick Bonino (13) tries to control the puck after a face-off – Photo by Jack Lima
Mikey Anderson (44) and Noah Gregor (73) collide along the boards – Photo by Jack Lima
Matt Roy (3) Oskar Lindblom (23) and Gabriel Vilardi (13) fight for the puck – Photo by Jack Lima
Mario Ferraro (38) tries to break up a pass from Adrain Kempe – Photo by Jack Lima
Logan Couture (39) moves the puck away from Arthur Kaliyev (44) – Photo by Jack Lima
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick stretches before the start of the second period – Photo by Jack Lima
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick relaxes during a timeout – Photo by Jack Lima
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick reaches for the puck as Tomas Hertl (48) looks for a rebound – Photo by Jack Lima
Kings defenseman Matt Roy’s stick flexes as he makes a pass – Photo by Jack Lima
Kevin Labanc (62) celebrates his first period goal – Photo by Jack Lima
Blake Lizotte (46) Carl Grundstrom (91) and Matt Benning (5) collide behind the net – Photo by Jack Lima
Alexander Barabanov (94) tries to avoid getting hit by a shot – Photo by Jack Lima
Alexander Barabanov (94) scores a goal past goalie Jonathan Quick late in the second period – Photo by Jack Lima
Alexander Barabanov (94) celebrates his goal with Logan Couture (39) – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks goalie James Reimer blocks a shot – Photo by Jack Lima
Trevor Moore (12) leads the rush with Phillip Danault (24) – Photo by Jack Lima
Steven Lorentz (16) moves the puck away from Blake Lizotte (46) Sean Walker (26) and Oskar Lindblom (23) – Photo by Jack Lima
Sharks goalie James Reimer – Photo by Jack Lima
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