SAN JOSE, Calif. – In game four of the Western Conference First Round series at SAP Center on Wednesday, the Sharks held on to defeat the Kings 3-2 in regulation. San Jose’s Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau each scored power play goals. Luke Schenn and Trevor Lewis each scored goals in the third period in the attempt to come back, but it wouldn’t be enough. San Jose leads the series 3-1.
Both teams started off fast and furious, and neither could find a way to get the puck to the net before the end of the first period.
The scoring started early in the second period, when Burn’s fired one-timer at the net went in just under the outstretched leg of Jonathan Quick at 2:09 into the period. Pavelski made it 2-0, at 9:21, while on a power play. His goal came after Joe Thornton passed the puck from behind the net, to him while he was positioned just outside the crease. The Shark’s Martin Jones held off any attempts by the Kings for the rest of the period.
The Sharks scored goal number three after a Logan Couture shot was rebounded towards Marleau, who wristed the shot past Quick only 1:40 into the third period. The puck hit the post and went into the net.
Luke Schenn fired a slap shot from the top of the left circle that beat Jones in the net. There was some delay, as it appeared that Lewis and Burns were fighting for position in front of Jones at the net, there may have been some interference, but the referee quickly reviewed the call and the goal stood
With 6:44 remaining in the period, the Kings’ Schenn blasts a shot towards the net from the top of the right circle that is deflected by Lewis into the net allowing the Kings to close in on the Sharks.
But it wouldn’t be enough; the Sharks get the 3-2 win for the night with Jones’s 27 saves for the win.
Game five will be Friday night in Los Angeles at Staples Center, where the Kings face possible elimination. The Sharks will need to use the confidence earned from Wednesday’s game to help give them the boost they need to finally finish the Kings once and for all; a feat that has failed in their last three attempts.
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