The Sharks entered play having won consecutive
games only three times this season. They expanded that to 4 with a 4-3 shootout
victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. They
have a chance to win 3 games in a row for the first time this season on Tuesday
when they head home to take on the New York Rangers. Logan Couture and Fabian
Zetterlund scored goals in the shootout to help pace San Jose who also won for
the first time in the shootout this season.
Zetterlund started his
night with a goal and ended it with a shot that beat David Rittich in the
skills competition to give the Sharks their 12th win of the season. He was an
all around contributor for San Jose, recording 4 shots on goal, 3 hits, a
blocked shot and was 1-for-2 in the faceoff circle.
The young Swede's
goal was his 14th of the season. Zetterlund was acquired as part of the Timo
Meier trade last spring. Meier has struggled in New Jersey, potting 9 goals
this season.
Things started precariously for San Jose, who gave up a
2-0 breakaway chance and a 2-on-1 chance all on the game's first shift. They
would defend both hair raising chances, but it was a preview of what was to
come.
Kappo Kahkonen was the difference maker early. His 44 saves was
one shy of his season high.
An Anthony Duclair tripping penalty setup
a Kings power play at 15:14, which seemed to jump start Los Angeles. San Jose
killed the penalty, but they would give up 18 shots in the period. Most of
those shots came in the final 4 minutes of the period when the Kings seemed to
fire at will at Kahkonen. San Jose blocked 9 shots in the period to add to the
shooting gallery feel of the opening 20 minutes.
Fabian Zetterlund
scored his 14th goal of the season at 7:46 of the 2nd period on a put back
chance from the slot. Mike Hoffman fired a shot on Kings goaltender David
Rittich on a delayed penalty to Los Angeles. Rittich stopped the initial shot,
but the puck kicked out to Zetterlund in between the bottom of the circles.
William Eklund made it a 2-0 Sharks lead at 9:06 when he took a Nico
Sturm feed on the rush and snapped a shot that caught the upper right corner of
the net. Eklund whipped his attempt from the inside edge of the left circle,
beating Rittich for his 8th of the year.
Trevor Moore halved the
Sharks lead with 2:54 remaining in the period when he charged the net from the
right circle, then lifted a shot over Kahkonen's right shoulder going top shelf
himself.
Los Angeles turned up the heat as the period wound down and
drew a tripping penalty on Luke Kunin for their trouble. That penalty came at
18:20, with 20 seconds carrying over to the 3rd period.
San Jose
killed off the remainder, but their defense failed to keep track of Quinton
Byfield who put a one time chance from the doorstep past Kahkonen 93 seconds
into the 3rd period. Adrian Kempe carried the puck behind the net then sent a
blind feed to a spot 8 feet in front of the Sharks net where Byfield buried it.
Justin Bailey helped San Jose reclaim the lead when
he took a lead pass from Ryan Carpenter, then split Vladislov Gavrikov and
Brandt Clarke on his way to a breakaway chance that would get past Rittich.
Kahkonen didn't do himself any favors when he launched a puck over the
glass with 2:37 left in regulation. The Kings took all of 41 seconds to cash in
when Drew Doughty ripped a shot from the point, beating the sharks goaltender
for his 11th of the season.
The Kings sent Trevor Moore and Adrian
Kempe to face Kahkonen in the shootout, but both were denied. Couture scored
his attempt with a strong forehand shot that beat Rittich to the glove side.
Zetterlund ended it with a shot that slid home through the 5-hole.
Game Notes: * Mario Ferraro went into the corner boards
awkwardly with 6:45 left in the 2nd period. He could barely get off the ice as
he favored his left ankle. He immediately limped to the dressing room and
missed the remainder of the period. He tested the ankle right before the 3rd
period started, but called it a night.
* William Eklund snapped an 18
game goal drought with his 2nd period goal. Sharks head coach David Quinn has
been patient with his rookie forward. The kid paid Quinn back with one of his
best performances of the season.
* Kyle Burroughs led the Sharks with
6 hits in the game. He was a physical presence against the Kings who tried to
push around younger skaters like William Eklund.
* Speaking of
physical, San Jose out-hit the Kings 24-14.
* San Jose play three
consecutive games at home, starting Tuesday night against the New York Rangers,
who arrived in San Jose on Monday.
