In San Jose Monday, the Sharks used home ice for what is intended, a strong performance in a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings.
Martin Jones made 30 saves in the win that clinched a playoff berth for the Sharks.
“I think one, appropriately, we clinched a playoff spot with a game like that against a team like that,” Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. “That’s kind of been the story all year that we wanted to prove we belonged in that category of team. We feel we do. It was a solid effort, goalie out, and it was nice to win that game.”
Tied at two all in the third, Joe Thornton scored the tie-breaker.
Brent Burns (88) and Joe Thornton (19) had strong games in win over LA – File photo by Jack Lima
“We’ve been playing some good hockey, we just haven’t clinched,” Thornton said. “To finally get that out of the way. Now just keep playing hard and stay healthy.”
Justin Braun had two goals and Joe Pavelski and Melker Karlsson also added markers for San Jose.
Vincent Lecavalier scored both goals for the Kings.
“It was battle all night against them,” Lecavalier said. “We wanted the points as much as they did. It doesn’t matter how big the game is for them, it was about us getting those two points but we didn’t get them.”
The Kings played catch-up all night and had no answer for Thornton’s go-ahead in the third.
“We had so many opportunities to get goals,” Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said. “We should have won the game. We didn’t get that go-ahead goal. Jones played well in the net for them. They got a couple of lucky bounces especially at the end especially after we tied it up at [2-2]. We might see them in the playoffs. We showed them that we’ll be a tough match for them
Jonathan Quick made 26 saves in the loss.
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