The Sharks traveled to Southern California for
a quick one-game stop in Los Angeles after last playing on Tuesday night and
fell 3-2 in the shootout to the Kings. With two days extra rest, the Sharks
should have been the fresh team. They didn't use the advantage, even with a big
2-minute power play in the overtime, but such is life for the Sharks these
days. They are an inferior team when compared to the Kings, who spent 5 years
wallowing in the Pacific Division while they retooled their roster. It's the
position San Jose is in now, and it showed.
Even with the advantage of
a power play in the overtime, Los Angeles out-shot the Sharks 7-0 in the extra
period. It was indicative of a team that simply doesn't have the personnel to
match up against playoff bound teams. They are learning to compete, but fell
flat in this one.
James Reimer made 39 saves in the loss. It was
another solid performance for the netminder that was wasted by a lack of
offense.
The Sharks sudden issue with stopping opposing power play
units got worse after Radim Simek was sent off for tripping 4:45 into the game.
Phillip Danault staked the Kings to the 1-0 lead a minute into the power play
when he powered past Jaycob Megna and lifted a puck that beat goaltender James
Reimer. Reimer tried sealing off the right side of the net, but Danault's shot
tucked inside the left post for his 8th goal of the season.
From the
"you don't see that everyday" department, it looked as if Erik Karlsson was
going to sit for 4 minutes after a double minor for high sticking Anze Kopitar
was called. Review determined that Karlsson lifted Kopitar's stick, which then
caught the Kings captain under the visor to draw blood. Because it was
Kopitar's stick that did the damage, the penalty was negated.
San Jose
did some damage with their first chance on the power play after Rasmus Kupari
was sent off for tripping at 12:51. Timo Meier slammed home a rebound from just
outside the right post after Logan Couture slid a half-shot through the crease
from the off wing.
Los Angeles finished the period with a 12-7
advantage on the shot counter, but the teams were all square after 20 minutes.
The middle period was largely uneventful, save for the last 4 minutes.
San Jose grabbed a short-lived lead at 15:26 when Timo Meier setup Kevin Labanc
with a pass to the slit. Labanc wound up and unloaded a shot that blasted past
goaltender Pheonix Copley for his 7th goal of the season.
The Kings
would answer on the next shift when Jaret Anderson Dolan fired a shot from 12
feet out after three Sharks defenders tied each other up 5 feet away.
The Sharks took a 4th minor penalty 9:25 into the 3rd period, giving the Kings
a prime opportunity to re-take the lead, but the Sharks penalty killers snuffed
out the threat. It was their 3rd straight kill after surrendering the Danault
goal early in the game.
Neither team would score in the period, even though
each team enjoyed a man-advantage situation in the frame.
Danault
gifted the Sharks a power play in the overtime when he slashed Meier, but the
Sharks squandered the opportunity. Just gaining the Kings zone was a challenge
for the 4 Sharks skaters on the ice.
In the shootout, Kevin Fiala and
Trevor Moore scored. Only Labanc would get a puck past Copley in the shootout.
Logan Couture, Nick Bonino and Alexander Barabanov all failed to help San Jose.
Game Notes: * Four Sharks forwards failed to record a
shot on goal including captain Logan Couture. When he disappears, the Sharks
struggle. Couture was also 4 for 13 on draws (31%).
* The end of the
calendar year means talks about trade deadline targets will begin to pick up.
If the Sharks can move Erik Karlsson, they're going to dump the disastrous
contract that Doug Wilson gave him.
* Speaking of trade deadline
fodder, James Reimer will likely be someone the Sharks may move to land pieces.
If he continues to play like he did against the Kings, there should be lots of
suitors.
* San Jose out-hit the Kings 36-26. They also blocked more
shots than LA (20 to 17).
* San Jose returns home to play in an odd
home series against the Calgary Flames, starting Sunday night at SAP Center.
