Sharks Lose 3-0 to Kings; First LA win over San Jose this year

San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier (28) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Sean Durzi (50) battle for the puck in the first period at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Thu Mar 17, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

LOS ANGELES- The San Jose Sharks were shutout 3-0 by the Los Angeles Kings Thursday. Anze Kopitar, Phillip Danault and Adrian Kempe scored for the Kings. Cal Petersen made 29 saves for the win. James Reimer made 24 saves in the loss.

On Wednesday, Tomas Hertl signed an eight-year contract extension with the Sharks. The contract is worth just over eight million per year, which will make him the second-highest paid player on the team next season.

In a press release from the Sharks, Assistant General Manager Joe Will said:

“By agreeing to this contract, Tomas is cementing his path with the Sharks, following in the footsteps of some incredible players who have worn the Sharks crest. He has shown that he wants to play in San Jose for years to come and it shows his dedication to the organization and community since he joined the team in 2012. We are thrilled to have Tomas for another eight years.”

That is great news for the Sharks, but it did not show in the game Thursday. They took a season high six penalties in the game and lost to Los Angeles for the first time this season. It was also the first time the Sharks have been shutout in Los Angeles since 2011. Tomas Hertl, however, did lead the team in shots with six.

The first period was scoreless with just one penalty called to the Sharks. The Kings out-shot the Sharks 10-6, but the Sharks won 71% of the face-offs.

Anze Kopitar started the scoring at 6:57 of the second period with a power play goal. Just above the circle, he caught a pass from Sean Durzi and put the puck past Reimer on the stick side with a hard wrist shot. It was Kopitar’s first goal in eleven games.

Phillip Danault made it 2-0 at 16:27. Durzi took the intial shot from the blue line and Reimer stopped that up high. The rebound went off to his left and Danault was there to take the shot before Reimer could reset. Assists went to Durzi and Trevor Moore.

To start the Sharks’ sixth penalty kill of the night, five minutes into the third, Tomas Hertl broke away for a short-handed shot. While he was doing that, Danault slashed him and was called for it. The slash actually wrapped around Hertl’s arm and stick, and could have easily been called a penalty shot. The officials did not agree, but did call the slash, neutralizing the Kings power play.

The Kings made it 3-0 with an empty net goal at 17:03 from Adrian Kempe.

Despite all of the penalties, the Sharks out-shot the Kings 29-27. The teams were dead even in the face-off circle. Their power play had three opportunities and six shots. Their penalty kill gave up nine shots and goal.

The Sharks next play on Friday, back in San Jose, against the Colorado Avalanche at 7:30 PM PT.

Sharks Defeat Kings 4-3 in OT, Karlsson Returns

San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl celebrates scoring an overtime goal against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Thu Mar 10, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

LOS ANGELES- The San Jose Sharks defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in overtime Thursday. Brent Burns, Nick Bonino, Alexander Barabanov and Tomas Hertl scored for San Jose. Zach Sawchenko made 33 saves for his first NHL win. Phillip Danault, Andreas Athanasiou and Trevor Moore scored for Los Angeles. Jonathan Quick made 26 saves in the loss.

Thursday saw the return of Erik Karlsson, Jonathan Dahlen and Jaycob Megna. Karlsson had two assists in 25:47 of ice time. After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner said:

“Erik was flying tonight. You could tell he was happy to be back and he was full of energy. I think our team looked like that too. You know, you get Megs and Karly back there, settle things down. You know, we’re not running around as much in our own end, and we’re spending more time in the other team’s end. So, it’s nice to sort of get some guys back from injury and look like a real team out there.”

The Sharks power play scored at 2:39 when Erik Karlsson made a pass to Brent Burns in the middle of blue line. Burns’ one-timer sent the puck in and out before you could blink. Karlsson and Couture got the assists.

Phillip Danault tied it up at 5:58. Sawchenko went to catch the puck on the initial shot but it bounced out of his glove. By then, he was out of position and when Danault found the puck, he had an open net to shoot at. Assists went to Trevor Moore and Andreas Athanasiou.

Athanasiou scored to give the Kings a lead eight seconds later. He took the shot from above the circle without seeming to look where he was shooting and it beat Sawchenko on the glove side. Assists went to Moore and Olli Maatta.

Moore made it 3-1 at 10:40 of the second period with a shorthanded goal. Danault and Moore played a little catch in the Sharks zone before Moore took the shot from the slot.

Nick Bonino trimmed the Kings lead at 12:13 with a power play goal. Jonathan Dahlen took a shot from inside the circle. Quick stopped it but it bounced over him and into the blue paint, where Bonino was able to nudge it over the line. Assists went to Dahlen and Jacob Middleton.

Alexander Barabanov tied it up at 1:21 of the third period. Erik Karlsson took a quick shot from up at the blue line and Barabanov managed to deflect it just as he arrived in front of the net. Assists went to Karlsson and Hertl.

Tomas Hertl scored the game winner at 1:15 of overtime. Hertl carried the puck over the line, across the ice and behind the net. When Hertl went past the net, Quick dove for the puck but missed it and Hertl carried on, around behind the net to score with a backhand. It was his first goal in 13 games. Assists went to Barabanov and Burns.

The shot count for the game was close, 36-30 Kings. In each period, the Sharks were within three shots of their opponent, a significant improvement over recent games. The Sharks won 53% of the face-offs.

The Sharks next play on Saturday at home, at 6:30 PM PT against the Kings again.