NHL

Rapid Fire Recap: Kings Stun Rival Sharks 3-2 in OT Thriller

Marian Gaborik scored the game-winner in overtime and the Los Angeles Kings came from behind to stun their rivals, the San Jose Sharks 3-2 at the Shark Tank on Sunday night.

SAN JOSE – Vincent LeCavalier scored the game-tying goal with 12 seconds left in regulation and Marian Gaborik scored the game-winner in overtime and the Los Angeles Kings came from behind to stun their rivals, the San Jose Sharks 3-2 at the Shark Tank on Sunday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The suddenly hot San Jose Sharks had an opportunity to get within six points of their Pacific divisional rivals with a victory on Sunday night.

The Sharks were 12 seconds away from handing Los Angeles their third consecutive loss, but the Kings rallied in the final moments and stole the game in overtime thanks to Marian Gaborik's 9th goal of the season.

Joe Pavelski scored to start the second period as the Sharks struck first against their Southern California rivals. Joe Thornton battled for the puck behind the net and then fed Thomas Hertl who was flying towards the goal, but he served up a pass for Pavelksi who was wide open on the left side for the one-timer goal.

The Kings appeared to be in disarray on the goal. At first glance the Sharks might have been offisdes, but after checking the replay, Los Angeles had difficulty with the line change, causing the Sharks to have numbers in the Kings' zone on the goal.

San Jose forward Mike Brown was called for a roughing penalty on Drew Doughty midway through the second period. Doughty would get the last laugh as he scored the game-tying goal a minute later on the power play.

The Sharks would recapture the lead at the 11:42 mark in the third period as once again San Jose created a scoring opportunity from behind the net. This time, it was Jonas Donskoi who patiently sat behind Enroth feeding Logan Couture in front for the one-timer goal.

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Vincent LeCavalier scored his fourth goal as a member of the Los Angeles Kings with just 12 seconds remaining in the game. With less than a minute left of ice time, Enroth came out of the net to give Los Angeles an extra attacker. Tanner Pearson found LeCavalier in front of the net and the 35-year-old veteran snuck the puck through the five-hole for the game-tying goal.

The always exciting 3-on-3 overtime period lived up to its billing until Gaborik sniped the game-winning goal with 54 seconds remaining in overtime as he beat former Kings goalie Martin Jones top shelf, glove side, to steal two big points from the Sharks.

TURNING POINT
Empty net. Jhonas Enroth left the ice with less than a minute remaining, and the extra attacker made the difference as Vinny LeCavalier scored the game-tying goal with 12 seconds left.

MVP OF THE GAME
Vincent LeCavalier. The 35-year-old plans on retiring at the end of the season, but before he hangs up his skates, LeCavalier is helping the Kings quest for another Stanley Cup.

STAT OF THE NIGHT
Joe Pavelski's second period goal was his 24th of the season, ranking him sixth in the NHL on the goals scored list.

TWEET OF THE NIGHT

Cue Elton John piano intro…

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT

These are the kind of hard-hitting questions I'm talking about!

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"I was on a half breakway, so I tried to go straight up glove side and it went in. This was a divisional opponent with huge points on the line. We trailed 2-1 and came back. It was a big win." – Kings forward Marian Gaborik.

NOTES
Jhonas Enroth started in net on the second night of a back-to-back for Los Angeles…LA Kings forward Milan Lucic was suspended for one game without pay for a roughing call on Arizona Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton…Jamie McBain was scratched for the Kings…Matt Tennyson and Dainius Zubrus were scratched for the Sharks.

RECORD
Los Angeles Kings (23-15-3, 63 points) 1st in Pacific Division

San Jose Sharks (25-18-4, 54 points) 2nd in Pacific Division

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Kings will get a few days of rest before hosting the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night at Staples Center.

San Jose will host Colorado on Tuesday night at the Shark Tank before the Avalanche head south to face the Kings.

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