|
|
Kings get steam-rolled
More breathing room after 5-0 win
4/6/06
- by Mike Lee
Jonathan Cheechoo would provide all the offense
the Sharks would need on Thursday night with his 1st period goal three minutes
into the game. The Sharks made sure Cheechoo's goal would stand up by adding
four more en route to a 5-0 pasting of the host Los Angeles Kings at the
Staples Center. Having won in Colorado 24 hours earlier, the Sharks looked as
if they could play another three or four periods, energized by the successes
that they've enjoyed this week.
San Jose will enjoy a short break before running the gauntlet next week with
five games in seven days, starting with a one game home-stand against the
Dallas Stars on Sunday. The win Thursday night helped separate the Sharks from
the Kings, who trailed San Jose by two points before the two teams tangled.
"Obviously you want to make the playoffs as a first priority, but along the way
you want to finish as high as you can," Sharks head coach Ron Wilson said.
"This road trip gives us a lot of confidence, because they were all tough
games."
The Kings put up a fight for a period and a half, then seemingly packed in
their season with a lack luster performance. Los Angeles only mustered three
shots on goal in the opening period, but they at least skated with some
intensity. That was long gone by the time the Sharks took control in the 3rd
period.
After scoring his 47th goal to open the game, Cheechoo teamed up with linemate
Joe Thornton for a back breaker with 8 ticks remaining in the 2nd period. The
Sharks repelled a rush by the Kings late in the period, but iced the puck as
the clock inched its way to expiration.
With the face off in the Kings zone, Thornton won the draw then stick-handled
toward the L.A. net. As Mathieu Garon moved to cover the left side of the net,
Thornton calmly slid a pass over to Cheechoo on the off wing for the easy goal.
Scott Thornton and cousin Joe would score goals just over a minute apart midway
through the third for a little icing on the cake. Cheechoo almost bagged a hat
trick on Joe Thornton's goal, but Garon made the initial stop. The rebound
floated toward the slot, where Thornton was skating, hitting the centerman in
the stick and bouncing in to the goal.
"It seems as though the Kings thought we would come out slow tonight, we had a
60-minute, good effort from everyone and they underestimated how we'd come
out," said Joe Thornton, who also improved his league-leading assist total to
83 with a pair.
Garon smashed his stick over the crossbar in disgust after the play, an
understandable move given his teammates lack of intensity over the final 20
minutes of play.
Steve Bernier would add the capper with just under three minutes remaining in
regulation to drive the final nail into the Kings coffin.
"We made too many mistakes, it was everybody," said Kings forward Pavol
Demitra, who was held without a shot. "We look like we are so nervous, like we
don't want to play."
Vesa Toskala faced only 14 shots on the evening to earn one of the easiest
shutouts in his career.
 |
| What did you think of
this article? Post your comments on the
Feeder
Forums |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| What did you
think of this game? Post your comments on the
Feeder
Forums |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| SJ |
1 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
| LA |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
| 1st period - 1, San Jose, Cheechoo 47, 3:26.
|
|
|
| 2nd period -
2, San Jose, Cheechoo 48 (Thornton), 19:51. |
|
|
| 3rd period - 3, San Jose, Thornton 10
(McCauley, Nieminen), 9:40.
4, San Jose, Thornton 28 (Cheechoo, Carle), 10:42, (pp).
5, San Jose, Bernier 12 (Marleau, Thornton), 17:21, (pp).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1st period - Penalties - Cheechoo, SJS
(interference), 13:35. |
|
|
| 2nd period - Corvo, LOS (holding), 4:20;
Frolov, LOS (hooking), 7:14; Gorges, SJS (holding), 16:29. |
|
|
| 3rd period - McCauley, SJS (hooking), 4:31;
Brown, LOS (tripping), 5:51; Sopel, LOS (hooking), 7:32; Corvo, LOS (hooking),
9:54; Ehrhoff, SJS (delay of game), 11:05; Rissmiller, SJS (boarding), 15:04;
Demitra, LOS (holding), 15:50; Conroy, LOS (holding), 16:30. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Shots |
Saves |
| SJ - Toskala |
14 |
14 |
| LA - Garon |
34 |
29 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| SJ |
13 |
8 |
13 |
34 |
| LA |
3 |
8 |
3 |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Referees: Mike Leggo, Michael McGeough. Linesmen:
Andy McElman, Mark Wheler. |
|
|
|
|
|
