2018-19 Regular Season Game 36 LA Kings Vs San Jose Sharks

Good Afternoon Hockey Fans! Today your Kings are on a back to back Pacific Division series before the Christmas break. For the first game of the back to back your Kings head up the coast to the Shark Tank (SAP Center At San Jose) to battle the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks sit 2nd in the Pacific Division, Sharks forwards Logan Coutrue and Tomas Hertl have a combined point total of 12 points the last 5 games. While for your Kings forwards Alex Iafallo and Anze Kopitar have combined for a point total of 10 in the Kings last 5 games. Today’s game will be the Kings 4,000 NHL game being played, as well the Kings will wear their silver alternate jerseys for this road game.

Here’s what head coach Willie Desjardins said about forward Matt Luff

“He’s got a great shot. He releases the puck well. Good speed, good size. We sent him down earlier, and when I sent him down, you guys all know, I said ‘I think he can play in the league. It’s not like that.’ But I think he came back and he was working hard. I think the biggest things he needs is consistency in his game. I think when he gets consistency, then I think he’ll be an everyday player, for sure. He’s a guy capable playing on your top-three lines. I think right now, I like the Amadio line. They’ve played well together. I think it’s easier sometimes for three young guys to be together than with a vet where they think they always have to get him the puck.”

Kings record before the game
(12-20-3)

Sharks record before the game
(19-12-5)

Today's starting lineup for your LA Kings

Alex Iafallo-Anze Kopitar-Dustin Brown

Adrian Kempe-Jeff Carter-Tyler Toffoli

Brendan Leipsic-Nate Thompson-Ilya Kovalchuk

Austin Wagner-Michael Amadio-Matt Luff

Defense Pairings

Derek Forbort-Drew Doughty

Jake Muzzin-Sean Walker

Daniel Brickley-Oscar Fantenberg

Tonight's starting goalie for your LA Kings is Jonathan Quick (backup goalie is Cal Petersen)

Scratches for today's game: Paul LaDue Nikita Scherbak

Players on the injury reserve: Jonny Brodzinski (shoulder injury) Jack Campbell (knee injury) Trevor Lewis (foot injury) Carl Hagelin (leg injury) Alec Martinez (upper body injury) Kyle Clifford (head injury) Dion Phaneuf (upper body injury)

At 4:28 in the 1st period the Kings scored to make it a 1-0 game. The goal was scored by number 17 Ilya Kovalchuk, the goal was his (1st goal of the game and 6th of the season).

1st period analysis

Both teams are getting chances early on. The Kings are playing aggressive on the forecheck and are firing shots 
on goal early on. The Sharks are putting pressure on the Kings early on. The akings get a power play and set up a great one time for Ilya Kovalchuk scored. Jonathan Quick making some good saves in the period. The Shakes are getting chances from the top in the offensive zone. San Jose is putting pressure in the Kings zone.the Kings created a turnover in the Sharks zone. The Kings creating chances in the Sharks zone and getting good shots on net. Nate Thompson threw a check in the San Jose corner. The Sharks were maintaining pressure in the Kings zone late in the period. Jonathan Quick has been keeping the Kings in this game by making some good saves as the Sharks are getting good chances in the offensive zone.

Sharks penalty to Timo Meier 2 minute minor for Hooking. Time of the penalty 3:32 in the 1st period.

There were no goals in the 2nd period.

2nd period analysis

Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson laid out Kings forward Austin Wagner with a shoulder to head hit, which should have been a penalty due to a bad hit. The Kings playing good defenseman as Seam Walker disrupts a Sharks two on one attack. The Kings had a nice scramble in the Sharks zone but could not find the back of the net, both teams going back and forth down the ice for scoring opportunities but neither team could light the lamp. Both teams getting a little scrappy after a San Jose chance on the Kings. The Kings get a good shot on via a deflection by Austin Wagner. Jonathan Quick is still playing good. The Kings have been making good transitions into the offensive zone. Lots of icing in this period. Jonathan Quick has been a brick wall so far by making some insane saves late in the period.

At 5:15 in the 3rd period the Kings scored to make it a 2-0 game early on in the 3rd period. The goal was scored by number 19 Alex Iaffalo, the goal was his (1st of the game and 8th of the season). Then at 10:18 the Sharks cut the Kings lead in half by a score of 1-2. The goal was scored by number 52 Lukas Radil, the goal was his (1st if the game and 3rd of the season). At 19:29 the Sharks tied the game by a score of 2-2. The goal was scored by number 8 Joe Pavelski, the goal was his (1st goal of the game and 23rd of the season). The game was tied so the game went into overtime

3rd period analysis

The Kings get a huge goal as Alex Iafallo rips a one time shot from Dustin Brown who passed it from behind the net. The Kings have been playing great defense throughout the game. Jonathan Quick has had another amazing game in net for the Kings. The Sharks were creating traffic in front of the Kings net but could not put anything past Quick. The Sharks set up a pass across the Kings crease and tapped it home past Quick. The Sharks scored with 30 seconds left in the game to tie it up.

At 2:29 in overtime THE KINGS SCORED TO WIN THE GAME 3-2! The goal was scored by number 17 ILYA KOVALCHUK! The goal was his (2nd of the game and 7th of the season).

Kings record after the
(13-20-3)

Sharks record after the game
(19-12-6)

Kings shots on goal 31

Sharks shots on goal 31

Kings power play 1 for 1

Sharks power play 0 for 1

Kings faceoff percentage 49%

Sharks faceoff percentage 51%

Kings hit total 37

Sharks hit total 30

Kings blocked shots total 29

Sharks blocked shots total 11