Blades of Teal
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San Jose Sharks Triumph Over Kings In Game Two

By Mike McCareins

Apr 16, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) celebrates with center Logan Couture (39) after their game in two of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. The San Jose Sharks won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) celebrates with center Logan Couture (39) after their game in two of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. The San Jose Sharks won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Thanks to a dominant performance from Martin Jones, the Sharks extended their series lead to 2-0 Saturday night with a 2-1 victory over the Kings.

Saturday night, the San Jose Sharks proved they are not your ordinary Sharks team.

This team is different. Proven veterans who can score goals and make plays, contributions from younger players, a stable blue-line group, a top-notch goaltender – this team has it all.

With a 1-0 series lead already in hand, the Los Angeles Kings were expected to be a the top of their game and force San Jose into playing A+ hockey to win another at Staples Center, and the Sharks did just that. They played one of their best games of the season when it mattered most.

Team teal got rolling early on when captain and Mr. Reliable, Joe Pavelski, scored his third goal of series, with helpers coming from his partners in crime Brent Burns and Joe Thornton. It was a beautifully set-up play by the trio, making it look easy to take an early 1-0 lead on the team’s first shot of the game.

One period and four L.A. penalties later, Logan Couture doubled the Sharks lead on a 5-on-3 opportunity midway through the second period. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick made a nice initial save, but found himself way out of position on the rebound, leading to Couture’s first goal of the postseason. Pavelski and Patrick Marleau notched assists on the goal.

Things got a little sloppier from there though, as San Jose would take the next three penalties of the game, two of which came from Nick Spaling. Spaling was one of the few Sharks who struggled in the victory.

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However, Martin Jones’ unbelievable goaltending throughout the night would keep the Kings at bay, who trailed by two until the final five minutes of the third period, when Vincent Lecavalier scored on a mad-scramble in front of the net for the power-play goal, cutting the Sharks’ lead in half. The Kings had plenty of opportunities in the final five minutes giving fans in teal everywhere heart attacks, but the Sharks would hold on to take Game Two.

Jones bounced back from a mediocre Game One, delivering a spectacular performance, stopping 26 of 27 shots faced and making several great saves. Despite the slim margin of victory, the Sharks played basically flawless hockey in the opening 40 minutes, and had their net-minder and two-goal cushion to thank in the final period to garner the win.

Next: Sharks Speed Poses Problems For Kings

Needless to say, this was a massive victory for the Sharks, who now hold home-ice advantage and have the opportunity to close out this series at SAP Center if they can defend home ice. Still, fans of team teal should not be surprised, as this bunch has been exceptional away from home this season, yet disappointing at home.

Game Three will be Monday night at 7:30 p.m. PDT where the Sharks look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.

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