San Jose 3, Los Angeles 2
SHARKS 3, KINGS 2 (OT): Dan Boyle scored twice, including the game winner 3:58 into overtime, as San Jose beat Los Angeles to set up a first-round playoff matchup with St. Louis.
With the extra session winding down, Boyle finished off an odd-man rush with a high backhander that beat Kings netminder Jonathan Quick as the Sharks completed a comeback from a two-goal third-period deficit. The thrilling victory moved San Jose into seventh place in the Western Conference, matching them up with the second-seeded Blues in the opening round.
The Kings wound up eighth in the conference and will face the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks in round one.
Justin Williams put the Kings on the board 11:09 into the opening period, connecting on a Los Angeles power play for his third goal in the back-to-back series against the Sharks.
San Jose lost sniper Joe Pavelski later in the period after he was hit in the face with the puck. He scurried off the ice but returned after being stitched up.
With the score still 1-0 late in the second period, the game took a chippy turn when the Kings’ Mike Richards was given a two-minute boarding minor after drilling Sharks forward Logan Couture into the boards. Richards provided more ire for Sharks fans less than 40 seconds after leaving the penalty box, banging home a rebound of a Williams shot with the Kings enjoying a man advantage.
Couture earned his revenge on the scoresheet, assisting on San Jose’s two third-period goals. Boyle cut into the lead 35 seconds into the frame, blasting a shot past Kings netminder Jonathan Quick.
Patrick Marleau brought the fans out of their seats less than eight minutes later, firing a shot that hit someone in front of the goal and eluded Quick for his 30th goal of the campaign. The Sharks veteran reached the 30-goal plateau for the fourth straight seasons.
San Jose had a golden opportunity to end the game late in regulation, but Pavelski rang a shot off the post.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Marleau’s milestone tally gave the Sharks three 30-goal scorers for the first time in franchise history. Couture and Pavelski share the team lead with 31 goals apiece. … Fifteen of Marleau’s goals have come in the third period. … San Jose failed to win the Pacific Division title for the first time in six seasons. The Phoenix Coyotes clinched their first division crown in franchise history with a 4-1 victory in Minnesota earlier Saturday. … Three of the eight West playoff teams come from the Pacific, with four more emerging from the Central and only one – division-champion Vancouver – based out of the Northwest.
You can purchase Canucks Vs Kings Tickets for their first round match up.
