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San Jose Sharks Look To Take Commanding Lead In Crucial Game 4

By Felix Chow |
Apr 18, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks right wing Joonas Donskoi (27) rounds goal as Los Angeles Kings defenseman Luke Schenn (52) defends in the third period of game three in the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks right wing Joonas Donskoi (27) rounds goal as Los Angeles Kings defenseman Luke Schenn (52) defends in the third period of game three in the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

San Jose looks to bounce back after a tough Game 3 loss as they look to pull within one win of the Western Conference semifinals.

After the San Jose Sharks fell to the Los Angeles Kings in overtime of Game 3,  the boys in teal look to regroup for Game 4. This is going to be a crucial game for both teams as we will see exactly how close this series is and whether or not the Sharks will take a commanding 3-1 series lead back to L.A. or if this will become a best of three moving forward.

One point of emphasis will be special teams. While the Sharks had been good on the power play in the first two games, converting on at least one power play in each game, they went 0-for-5 in Game 3. In total, they are only 2-for-14 in the series, and that has to change. They have also allowed one power play goal in their last three games as their penalty kill needs to step up tonight.

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Another area needing improvement is face-offs, where they were completely dominated in Game 2 (about 40 percent) and lost in that category again in Game 3 (43 percent). The LA Kings were almost 60 percent on the draw in Game 2, and 57 percent in Game 3. Win those face-offs, especially at critical junctures of the game (PP, PK), and they’ll be fine.

There’s not much in the way of injuries for the Sharks, except for Matt Tennyson (concussion) who is on assignment with the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. The Kings are still missing Alec Martinez (undisclosed) on their blue line as well as Matt Greene (shoulder). Jordan Nolan (herniated disc) is out too.

Here are the projected starting line-ups for both teams tonight:

San Jose SharksLos Angeles Kings
Tomas Hertl – Joe Thornton – Joe Pavelski
Joonas Donskoi – Logan Couture – Joel Ward
Matt Nieto – Patrick Marleau – Melker Karlsson
Nick Spaling – Chris Tierney – Tommy Wingels

Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Justin Braun
Paul Martin – Brent Burns
Brenden Dillon – Roman Polak

Martin Jones
James ReimerDwight King – Anze Kopitar – Marian Gaborik
Milan Lucic – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli
Tanner Pearson – Vincent Lecavalier – Dustin Brown
Kyle Clifford – Nick Shore – Trevor Lewis

Brayden McNabb – Drew Doughty
Jake Muzzin – Luke Schenn
Rob Scuderi – Jamie McBain

Jonathan Quick
Jhonas Enroth

Next: Sharks Must Tighten Up Special Teams

Tonight should be another dandy between these two bitter rivals as there isn’t much separating them on the ice. All three games have been decided by one goal, and the way things have gone, we should come to expect nothing less when the puck drops at SAP Center later tonight.

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