The Sharks dominance over the Los Angeles
Kings took a night off on Thursday. After beating the Kings in their first
three meetings, San Jose could do nothing in their 4th affair, falling to Los
Angeles 3-0 at Crypto.com Arena. Cal Petersen made 29 saves to shutout the
Sharks, whose listless offense never really challenged the Kings goaltender.
With the loss, San Jose fell 9 points out of the last playoff spot.
In
a atypical night for the Sharks, they were hampered by 6 penalties that
resulted in power play chances for the Kings. San Jose spent critical time in
the middle period chasing the Kings power play unit.
The Kings came
out firing early in the contest, seemingly intent on not losing a 4th
consecutive game to the Sharks. They held a 6-1 shot advantage through the
first 10 minutes of the contest, but could not get a puck past goaltender James
Reimer. The Sharks weathered the opening push by the Kings, which included a
penalty kill situation after Brent Burns was sent off for tripping at 10:39.
Adrian Kempe came closest to scoring in the opening frame when his
shot clanked off the crossbar in the final minute of play.
The Sharks
found themselves killing penalties early in the 2nd period. Alexander Barabanov
and Timo Meier took penalties 3:40 apart, but it was the Meier's holding
penalty at 6:15 which cost San Jose.
Anze Kopitar converted on the
man-advantage 42 seconds into the power play. The Kings captain snapped a wrist
shot from the outside of the right circle, beating Reimer who was partially
screened by defenseman Jake Middleton.
Phillip Danault pushed the Kings lead to 2-0 after
he beat Middleton to a loose puck in front of the Sharks net and used a
flailing backhand to slip it past Reimer for his 18th goal of the season.
The Sharks looked like they were going through the motions in the 3rd
period. No energy or motivation resulted in no serious scoring chances for the
Sharks other than a partial breakaway that Tomas Hertl failed to convert.
Reimer deserved better. He made 24 saves 14th regulation loss of the
season, receiving zero offensive support.
Game Notes: *
Nick Bonino, John Leonard, Scott Reedy, Jonathan Dahlen and Alexander Barabanov
were all held without a shot on goal in the game. The absence of any offense
can be found in an absence of any support from the 3rd and 4th lines.
* Timo Meier, Logan Couture and Erik Karlsson were all a -2. Not what you wnat
to see from three of your team's leadership.
* Jacob Megna took a puck
to the ankle in the opening period, but continued in the contest. Megna had
surgery on his ankle in November.
* San Jose out-hit the Kings 26-16.
* The Sharks won the season series 3-1.
