LA Kings stay alive in 3-1 win over Sharks

SAN JOSE , Calif. – The Los Angeles Kings get a big win in game five against the San Jose Sharks and close the spread 3-2 games in a best of seven series for the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
 
Jonathan Quick was the hero in this game, as he made a franchise playoff record 51 saves in the match for the 3-1 win over San Jose.   Quick was able to forget about the fact that in the last two games, the Sharks scored six goals in each game on him.
 
The Kings scored all three goals early in the first period, forcing Sharks Antti Niemi from the net after only 8:42 of play.
 
Rob Scuderi hit a slap shot toward the net that went just wide, but was chipped in by Kyle Clifford at 3:36.   Clifford scored the next Kings goal at 7:14 with a rebound from a shot made by Wayne Simmonds that went past Niemi glove side.   The Kings Dustin Penner scored his first goal of the post season at 8:42, with a wrist shot from just outside the crease that went over the glove of Niemi.
 
The three goals quieted an otherwise rambunctious crowd of 17,562 at HP Pavilion.  
 
Sharks Coach Todd McLellan replaced Niemi with Antero Nittymaki, for the second time in five games, following the third Kings goal.   Niemi had a single save on four shots during his time in the net.  
 
The Sharks continued to hammer the puck at Quick throughout the rest of the first period, but could not find a way to solve him.   At the end of the first, it was 3-0 Kings.
 
Patrick Marleau finally found a small opening between the post and the stick of Quick at 5:43 into the second period, but that would be the only goal by the Sharks.
 
Nittymaki had 18 saves during his time in the net.
 
The Sharks had four unsuccessful man advantage chances, but were unable to produce, while the Kings had only a single power play for the game.
 
The teams travel back to southern California to Staples Center for game six on Monday, April 25.  
 
Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com