Friday, April 22, 2016

Pacific Division Playoffs: 2) Los Angeles Kings VS. 3) San Jose Sharks

As usual, this post covers the entire series in the first round of this year's NHL playoffs.

Game 1: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Martin Jones for San Jose and Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles. Los Angeles opened with a Jake Muzzin goal in the first period, courtesy of Milan Lucic and Tanner Pearson. San Jose tied it on a Joe Pavelski power play goal, powered by Brent Burns and Logan Couture. The Sharks took the lead with a Burns goal in the second period, with a lone assist from Joel Ward. The Kings tied it on a Jeff Carter power play goal, assisted by Lucic and Anze Kopitar. Los Angeles gained the lead with a Trevor Lewis shorthanded goal, going in unassisted. San Jose tied it again with a Tomas Hertl goal, made possible by Ward and Joonas Donskoi. The Sharks took the lead on Pavelski's second of the game in the third period, helped along by Justin Braun. This stood for a 4-3 win, with the three stars being Pavelski, Burns, and Ward, while Lucic gets an honorable mention. The Sharks own a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Martin Jones for San Jose and Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles. San Jose started in the first period with a Joe Pavelski goal, his third of the postseason, assisted by Brent Burns and Joe Thornton. The Sharks added on in the second period with a Logan Couture power play goal, powered by Pavelski and Patrick Marleau. Los Angeles got on the board with a Vincent Lecavalier power play goal in the third period, helped along by Jake Muzzin and Tanner Pearson. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars going to Pavelski, Couture, and Jones (26 for 27 in saves). The Sharks head home with a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3: SAP Center, San Jose, California. In goal: Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles and Martin Jones for San Jose. San Jose led off in the first period with a Joe Thornton goal, assisted by Tomas Hertl. Los Angeles tied it on an Anze Kopitar power play goal, powered by Milan Lucic and Jake Muzzin. The Kings won 2-1 in overtime with a Tanner Pearson goal, helped along by Dustin Brown and Vincent Lecavalier. The three stars were Pearson, Quick (29 for 30 in saves), and Kopitar. The series is now 2-1, still favoring the Sharks.

Game 4: SAP Center, San Jose, California. In goal: Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles and Martin Jones for San Jose. San Jose got going in the second period with a Brent Burns goal, his second of the postseason, coming on the power play from Joel Ward and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. The Sharks added on with a Joe Pavelski power play goal, his fourth of the playoffs, powered by Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. San Jose extended the lead in the third period as Marleau scored a power play goal, with the help of Logan Couture and Burns. Los Angeles got on the board with a Trevor Lewis goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Luke Schenn and Kris Versteeg. The Kings pulled closer on Schenn's goal, fueled by Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik. San Jose held on for a 3-2 win, with the three stars given to Marleau, Burns, and Schenn. The Sharks leave home with a 3-1 series lead, and they could topple the Kings in the next game. 

Game 5: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. In goal: Martin Jones for San Jose and Jonathan Quick for Los Angeles. San Jose began in the first period with a Joonas Donskoi goal, with a lone assist by Logan Couture. The Sharks added on with a Chris Tierney goal, made possible by Brent Burns. San Jose extended the lead in the second period as Matt Nieto scored, thanks to Joel Ward and Couture. Los Angeles got on the board with an Anze Kopitar goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Dwight King and Drew Doughty. The Kings got closer with a Jeff Carter goal, his second of the playoffs, courtesy of Jake Muzzin and Tyler Toffoli. Los Angeles tied it on a Kris Versteeg goal, assisted by Kyle Clifford and Muzzin. The Sharks took the lead back in the third period on a Donskoi goal, his second of the game, guided in by Burns and Couture, the latter getting a sock trick. San Jose padded the lead with a Joe Pavelski goal, his fifth of the postseason, helped along by Burns, who got a sock trick, and Paul Martin. The Sharks iced it at 6-3 with a Melker Karlsson empty net goal, set up by Patrick Marleau. The three stars went to Donskoi, Couture, and Burns, while Muzzin gets an honorable mention. The Sharks take the series 4-1, and they await the Ducks or the Predators. 

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