San Jose Sharks 12, Los Angeles Kings 1 (Game 73)

The Sharks (71-1-0) traveled back to Los Angeles to face the Kings (32-31-9) for the fifth time this season. San Jose was 4-0-0 against the Kings this season going into this contest. 

Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks (Game 35)

Vesa Toskala (SJ) and Roman Cechmanek (LA) started in goal. The Sharks opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal by Vincent Damphousse (SJ), which was followed by a goal by Scott Hannan (SJ) to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead heading into the 2nd period.  

Patrick Marleau (SJ) scored shorthanded nine seconds into the 2nd period to give the Sharks a 3-0 lead, but Mattias Nordstrom (LA) answered on the powerplay for the Kings' first goal of the game. Teemu Selanne (SJ) responded with a goal to extend the Sharks' lead to 4-1, but Luc Robitaille (LA) scored to pull the Kings back to within 4-2 to end the 2nd period. 

Jaroslav Modry (LA) scored midway through the 3rd period to pull the Kings to within 4-3 of the Sharks, and Jonathan Cheechoo (SJ) was called for tripping in the final minute of the game. On the ensuing Los Angeles powerplay, Vincent Damphousse won the faceoff in the Sharks' zone and Dan McGillis banked his clearing attempt off the boards and into the empty Kings net, giving the Sharks a 5-3 victory. The Kings outshot the Sharks 29-23, and the players selected as the three stars of the game were: 

​3) Jaroslav Modry (LA) registered one goal, zero assists and -1
2) Vincent Damphousse (SJ) registered one goal, one assist and +3
1) Dan McGillis (SJ) registered one goal, one assist and +2

Final Score:
Los Angeles Kings    3
San Jose Sharks        5

San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings (Game 36)

The second meeting of the season took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Roman Cechmanek (LA) again started for the Kings, while Evgeni Nabokov (SJ) replaced Vesa Toskala in goal for the Sharks. 

Marco Sturm (SJ) opened the scoring midway through the first period to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead heading into the 2nd period. 

The Sharks then scored five straight goals in the 2nd period, courtesy of Mike Ricci, Patrick Marleau (two goals), Marco Sturm and Teemu Selanne to take a 6-0 lead into the 3rd period. The Sharks also outshot the Kings 20-16 by the 2nd intermission. 

Teemu Selanne (SJ) opened the third period scoring on a breakaway goal, and Brad Stuart (SJ) scored a shorthanded goal to give the Sharks an 8-0 victory. The Sharks outshot the Kings 26-25, and the players selected as the three stars of the game were: 

3) Patrick Marleau (SJ) registered two goals, zero assists and +5
2) Evgeni Nabokov (SJ) registered 25 saves on 25 shots
1) Marco Sturm (SJ) registered two goals, one assist and +4

Final Score: 
San Jose Sharks         8
Los Angeles Kings     0

Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks (Game 71)

The 1st period saw the Sharks dominate with goals by Adam Graves (PP), Dan McGillis, Mike Rathje, and a hat trick by captain Patrick Marleau, who started and ended the first period scoring. The Sharks converted on 2/5 powerplays and held the Kings to only 3 shots on goal to the Sharks' 17 in the first period. 

The second period saw a reversal of fortunes, as the Sharks failed to register a goal (despite launching 15 shots on net), but the Kings recorded a shorthanded goal by Jozef Stumpel. It was the first shorthanded goal against for the Sharks all season, and the 2nd period ended with the Sharks leading 6-1. 

Adam Graves (SJ) opened the scoring in the 3rd period for San Jose, and Marco Sturm and Niko Dimitrakos added goals of their own to give the Sharks a 9-1 victory. The Sharks outshot the Kings 41-20, and the following three players were selected as the three stars of the game: 

3) Adam Graves (SJ) registered two goals, zero assists and +1
2) Marco Sturm (SJ) registered one goal, one assist and +2
1) Patrick Marleau (SJ) registered three goals, zero assists and +4

Final Score:
Los Angeles Kings    1
San Jose Sharks        9

Today's Game: San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings (Game 73)

The Sharks visited the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the second time this season. Teemu Selanne opened the scoring for the Sharks, but was immediately answered by Luc Robitaille (LA) who evened the score at 1-1. The Sharks then received back-to-back powerplay goals from Rob Davison and Adam Graves, as well as an even=strength goal by Sharks captain Patrick Marleau to end the 1st period with the Sharks leading 4-1. Los Angeles had not managed to score more than three goals against the Sharks in any game this season. 

The 2nd period was one of the most dominant of the Sharks' season. Teemu Selanne again opened the scoring for the Sharks, followed by Scott Thornton (SJ), Vincent Damphousse (SJ-PP), Thornton again on a breakaway, Marco Sturm (SJ) shorthanded, Adam Graves and Alyn McCauley as the Sharks added a total of seven goals in the 2nd period to take an 11-1 lead into the 3rd period. By the 2nd intermission the Sharks were outshooting the Kings 32-12, had converted on 3/4 powerplays and had scored nine straight goals since Luc Robitaille's (LA) game-tying goal in the 1st period. 

The 3rd period saw only one goal, as Lynn Loyns (SJ) scored on a breakaway goal to give the Sharks a 12-1 victory. The Sharks outshot the Kings 37-19 in the contest and went 3/5 on the powerplay. 

The following players were selected as the three stars of the game: 
3) Vincent Damphousse (SJ) registered one goal, three assists and +4
2) Teemu Selanne (SJ) registered two goals, one assist and +5
1) Scott Thornton (SJ) registered two goals, one assist and +2

Final Score:
San Jose Sharks       12
Los Angeles Kings     1

The Sharks will next remain in Southern California for a meeting with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, whom the Sharks are 5-0-0 against this season. The game will be broadcast on Monday, May 25th at 7:00PM Pacific Standard Time.