May 18th, 2013 at 10:13 PM
By Brandon Der AvanessianLogan Couture’s power-play goal in overtime propelled the San Jose Sharks to a 2-1 home-win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Dan Boyle scored the only other goal for the home team and Antii Niemi stopped 26 shots, as the Sharks cut the Kings’ series lead in half, 2-1.
Game 4 will be played Thursday at HP Pavillion, before the series shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 5.
The Kings took full advantage of late penalties called against San Jose in Thursday’s Game 2, scoring two power-play goals in the final minutes to complete a wild comeback victory.
On Saturday, the Sharks got their chance at redemption. Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr took a hooking penalty with 42 seconds remaining in the third, and moments later, Trevor Lewis was called for goaltender interference at 19:55, giving the Sharks a glorious 5 on 3 opportunity late in regulation and overtime.
The Kings had just killed off the first of two penalties before Couture’s game-winning wrist shot sailed past the glove-hand of Jonathan Quick at 1:29. Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton earned the assists on the young center’s first career playoff overtime goal.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 16th, 2013 at 11:58 AM
By Brandon Der AvanessianThe Los Angeles Kings scored back to back power-play goals in the final two minutes of regulation on Thursday, completing a wild 4-3 comeback win over the San Jose Sharks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Dustin Brown tied the game with 1:43 remaining and Trevor Lewis added the game-winner just 22 seconds later, as the defending champs took a 2-0 series lead over their interstate rivals.
The Sharks were less than two minutes away from tying the best-of-seven series at 1-1, but a late-game meltdown now has them in a tough hole as they head back home to San Jose. After two series-opening games at Staples Center, the second round will now shift up North to HP Pavillion for Game 3 on Saturday night, and Game 4 on Tuesday.
The Kings were in a tough situation of their own deep in the game, but two of their 18 third-period shots finally broke down the door, sending the sold-out Staples Center crowd into a frenzy.
"We've been together, we've been through a lot together, and that goes a long way when you get yourselves in tight situations like tonight," said captain Dustin Brown. "This time of year it's a matter of sticking to your game."
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 16th, 2013 at 4:15 PM
By Brandon Der AvanessianSan Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres has been suspended for the remainder of the Western Conference Semifinals for his Game-1 hit on Los Angeles Kings center Jarret Stoll. The verdict on Torres' suspension came down Thursday afternoon, after the 11-year veteran flew to New York Wednesday for an in-person disciplinary hearing with the NHL.
Torres was assessed a charging penalty towards the end of the second period, when it looked as though he made contact (whether intentionally or not) with Stoll's head while finishing a shoulder to shoulder check. In Torres' defense, Stoll was slightly bent over and in a vulnerable position, but Director of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan explained that Torres ignored the opportunity to take more of the body, instead making the head the principal point of contact.
Stoll left the ice and did not return for the third period with what is presumably a concussion. Head Coach Darryl Sutter called Torres' hit "careless" and stated that Stoll is "day to day." He will miss Game 2 at the very least. If Stoll is indeed suffering from a concussion, it will be the third consecutive postseason in which an illegal hit by Torres has led to a player being concussed.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 16th, 2013 at 1:17 PM
By Brandon Der AvanessianLos Angeles Kings forward Brad Richardson will replace Jarret Stoll as the third-line center for tonight’s Game 2 at Staples Center against the San Jose Sharks.
Stoll was injured late in the second period of Game 1, after he was knocked to the ice on a borderline hit by Sharks forward Raffi Torres. The team has stayed mum on the details of the injury, but Stoll presumably suffered a concussion as a result of the contact to his head. Head Coach Darryl Sutter called the hit “reckless,” and labeled his center man ” day to day.”
Torres was assessed a two-minute minor for charging during the game, at the time the incident occurred. The 11-year veteran flew to New York on Wednesday for an in-person disciplinary hearing with the NHL, and faces a possible suspension for the hit in question. He will miss Game 2 while the team awaits a verdict from the league, which will likely be announced later Thursday.
Torres has previously been suspended three times and fined on numerous occasions for illegal checks, including a 21-game suspension for a reckless hit that knocked Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa out of the postseason last spring.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 15th, 2013 at 2:07 AM
By Brandon Der AvanessianThe Los Angeles Kings got off to a good start in their Western Conference Semifinal series with the San Jose Sharks, shutting their interstate rivals out 2-0 in Game 1 behind Jonathan Quick’s sixth career postseason shutout.
Slava Voynov and Mike Richards each had a goal and an assist and Quick made 35 saves, as the Kings hosted their first Game 1 in 21 years. They last began a playoff series at home in 1992 against the Edmonton Oilers in the Smythe Division Semifinals.
Los Angeles was outshot and outplayed early in the game, and in the third period when the Sharks recorded 16 shots on net. But Quick continued his stellar play from the first round, closing the door on each of San Jose’s quality scoring chances.
Voynov put the Kings ahead 1-0 late in the first period when his hard slap shot from the right circle beat Antii Niemi at 19:47. All three of his postseason goals have been game-winners.
The Kings then earned their first two-goal lead of the playoffs after Voynov’s long shot deflected off Richards and in at 12:30 of the second period. The goal was Richards’ first of the postseason, giving him a team-leading seven points (1 goal, 6 assists) in seven games.
Read more... Join the Conversation... 
Loading ...