Sharks force Game 7
All San Jose’s wins have been by 2-1 scores
SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Buoyed by a loud crowd and another early power-play goal, the San Jose Sharks matched Los Angeles’ three home wins with a third straight victory over the Kings at the Shark Tank.
Now this all-California series comes down to a winnertake-all game on Los Angeles’ home ice.
Joe Thornton got San Jose off to a fast start with a powerplay goal in the first period and TJ Galiardi added a goal in the second to help the Sharks force a decisive seventh game with a 2-1 victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions Sunday night.
“We wanted this opportunity,” said Joe Pavelski, who set up Thornton’s goal. “We wanted to go play. We feel like we’ve played some good games there before. It’s been a while since we’ve won, so we’re due.”
Antti Niemi made 24 saves as the Sharks earned their third 2-1 home win of the series.
Game 7 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles. While the Kings seemingly have the advantage of home ice that has been so paramount this series, road teams in NHL history are 8-8 in seventh games of series where the home team has won the first six games, according to STATS LLC.
“It’s followed the script. Home team wins back and forth,” Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. “It’s time for us to get there and try to change the story. We’re going to have to play a much better game than we did last time in that building. But they earned the right for home ice. It’s our job to take it away from them.”
Dustin Brown scored the lone goal for Los Angeles and Jonathan Quick made 24 saves. The Kings have lost 11 of 12 road games but have been unbeatable at home, winning all six playoff games and 13 straight at Staples Center since the end of the regular season.
“It’s come down to one game,” forward Mike Richards said. “We’re a confident, comfortable team at home. The fans are loud and behind us. It should be an exciting game.”
The Kings tried to end it in San Jose, putting pressure on Niemi early in the final period in search of the equalizer. But they couldn’t break through against a strong forecheck late to the delight of the loud crowd chanting “Beat LA! Beat LA!” from the start of the night.
Los Angeles managed just one shot on goal in the final 2:50.
After taking a 1-0 lead early, the Sharks went more than 15 minutes without a shot before regaining their stride early in the second period. Galiardi beat Quick with a wrist shot from the faceoff circle for his first career playoff goal to make it 2-0 and San Jose had a chance to break the game open when Justin Williams was sent to the box for a double-minor high-sticking penalty.
But Quick and the Kings killed off all four minutes of power-play time and then got back into the game with just over six minutes left in the second when Brown banked a shot from behind the goal line off Niemi and into the net.
“I’m sure it’s not a shock it’s come to a Game 7,” said Kings defenceman Rob Scuderi. “I’m sure both teams didn’t want it to go this far. Right now, it doesn’t matter how we win it, just that we win it.”