San Jose Sharks Post Huge Comeback Win Over Kings

What a way to wrap up a road trip and head into the holiday break. The San Jose Sharks looked like a weary group during the first 20 minutes of play as the Los Angeles Kings thoroughly dominated the Sharks. However, San Jose would use four unanswered goals to secure a huge 5-3 victory over their division rivals and cut their lead to six points within the Pacific.

San Jose’s top players were their best ones on this night led by the captain Joe Pavelski, who’s two power play goals in a 92-second span proved the difference on this night. With the Sharks trailing by a 3-2 deficit, San Jose was given an opportunity on the power play following a high-sticking penalty to Christian Ehrhoff. To that point in the game, the Sharks power play had been terrible, generating very few chances and rarely setting up in the offensive zone.

On this occasion, San Jose would need just four seconds as Brent Burns wristed one towards the net that Pavelski redirected right between the legs of Jonathan Quick for his 17th goal of the season. Then, Milan Lucic would take a slashing penalty against Burns 35 seconds later, who many in the building felt was an embellishment, which put the Sharks right back on the power play.

Once again, Pavelski came through for his teammates taking a perfect feed from Joe Thornton from behind the net and roofing it past Quick to give San Jose a 4-3 lead. Fittingly enough, it was Burns who would ice the game with his second of the night into the empty net as the Sharks emerged with a big win.

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It didn’t appear as if San Jose would survive the first period as Los Angeles dominated the game from the get go. The Kings would outshoot the Sharks 21-6 in the first frame and took a two-goal lead less than five minutes into the game. Tyler Toffoli would score his first of two on the night by placing a perfect shot between the legs of Justin Braun and past a screened Martin Jones at the 1:40 mark of the first.

Then, Dustin Brown took a harmless looking shot from the right-wing boards that Trevor Lewis was able to tip in off the pads of Jones and San Jose was officially in trouble. The Sharks could barely get the puck out of their own end and generate any sort of consistent attack. Following the two early goals, Jones was stellar in keeping San Jose in the game. He would end up making 19 saves in the period, many of the high end variety.

With Jones keeping his teammates in the game, the Sharks found a lifeline with one of their few offensive attacks. After a nice cycle, Brenden Dillon’s shot from the point was tipped by Pavelski before Thornton got the final touch into the open net to cut the deficit in half. For as much as San Jose was outplayed in the first, it was a big goal for the Sharks to only head into the dressing room down by one.

San Jose was much better over the final 40 minutes, but they would find themselves down by two once again as Burns was caught deep in the offensive zone, unable to corral a bouncing puck. That sparked a two-on-one rush between Tanner Pearson and Toffoli as Pearson’s pass found Toffoli who deposited his 14th goal of the year as Burns couldn’t quite get back.

However, he would atone for his defensive blunder 57 seconds later as he wristed one from the right point past a screened Quick to cut the Kings lead to one yet again. From there, the San Jose power play would take control.

It was a gutsy effort from the boys in teal to come away with the two points in this one as they battled back from a poor start. The Sharks’ special teams were key as the power play scored for the fourth straight game, while the penalty kill was perfect yet again. San Jose could have easily folded the tents in first, but they kept fighting as they wrapped up their five-game road trip (3-1-2) in style and now have something to build upon.

Next: Sharks Hold Steady In Pacific Division

The Sharks now get six days off before their next game as they can recharge and hopefully get some more healthy bodies back. Regardless, they head into the holiday break on a high note, securing one of their biggest wins to date during the 2015-16 season.