LOS ANGELES, CA (BDCi) – The Los Angeles Kings jumped out to a one game to none lead on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks. On Thursday the two teams faced off in the second game of their series with the Kings looking to open up a two games to none lead while the Sharks were looking to even the series at one game a piece. Which team would come out on top? Let’s find out!
In the first period the Sharks were all over the Kings off the opening puck drop as the Sharks fired shot after shot immediately on goaltender Jonathan Quick, but much like in game one, Quick was on his A-game as he turned aside shot after shot and kept the Sharks off the scoreboard. It appeared that the Kings were headed for a long night, however the Kings finally gained possession of the puck and Jeff Carter skated coast to coast and fired a wrist shot on net that beat Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi blocker side high to give the Kings an early 1-0 lead. At the end of the period the Kings would be outshot 11-4, but it would be Los Angeles leading 1-0 after one period of play.
In the second period the Kings extended their lead to two goals as Drew Doughty blasted a shot past Antti Niemi to make the score 2-0 four minutes into the second period. After that though it was the Sharks who finally lit the lamp as some nifty passing set up Patrick Marleau for his fifth goal of the playoffs to cut the lead to 2-1 and then the Sharks tied it at two when Brad Stuart blasted a shot from the point past Jonathan Quick to even it up. That would be the final goal of the period as the game would go into the second intermission tied at two.
In the third period it was the Sharks striking yet again as Marc-Edouard Vlasic beat Jonathan Quick to give the Sharks their third straight goal and a 3-2 lead on the Kings. After that all the energy had left the fans in Staples Center and the Kings appeared rattled. However with two minutes to go the Kings earned a five on three powerplay and went to work there to try and tie it up. Jeff Carter threw the puck at the net and Dustin Brown was able to get it past Niemi for the tying goal at three. Twenty-two seconds later the Kings scored again to take a 4-3 lead as Trevor Lewis scored his first goal of the playoffs to put the Kings back on top and earn them the victory.
The Kings now lead their series two games to none and will head to San Jose for game three on Saturday and then game four on Tuesday night where they will look to win the final two games of the series, or earn a split and come back to Los Angeles and hope win game five and earn the series victory.
By: Benjamin Robinson
Source: ESPN
May 17, 2012
10:52 a.m. PDT