LOS ANGELES – Joe Pavelski scored two power-play goals in the final period and the San Jose Sharks rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the rival Kings 5-3 at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Kings wasted no time jumping on the Sharks as Tyler Toffoli scored his 13th goal of the season just 1:40 into the first period. Toffoli's wrist shot from center ice beat former teammate Martin Jones to his glove side for the goal.
Three minutes later, the Kings took a 2-0 lead when Dustin Brown's slap shot was tipped by Trevor Lewis in front of the net, and redirected into the goal.
Joe Thornton answered for San Jose midway through the first period when he tipped in a shot by Brenden Dillon for his 17th goal of the season.
The Kings struck again 17:48 into the second period when Tanner Pearson fed Toffoli on a two-on-one breakaway.
Less than a minute later the Sharks responded when Brent Burns blasted a wrist shot from just in front of the blue line and San Jose entered the final period trailing by just one goal.
Burns' goal at the end of the second period turned out to be a huge momentum changer for the Sharks who scored in a span of 92 seconds on back-to-back power plays. Pavelski tied the game on the first PP goal off a penalty committed by Christian Ehrhoff.
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"That was a huge goal," Thornton said after the game. "It changed momentum and we went off from there."
Seconds later, Milan Lucic picked up another Kings penalty, and again it was Pavelski again who slid out in front of the net and beat Quick after receiving a lazer-like pass from Thornton. The go-ahead goal was Pavelski's second of the night and put the Sharks up for good.
Burns added an empty-netter late in the game for his second goal of the game as well.
For the second consecutive time at Staples Center former Kings goalie, Martin Jones, defeated his former club. Jones made 33 saves in the victory. The Kings outshot the Sharks in the loss 36-to-23.
TURNING POINT
Third period penalties. Christian Ehrhoff and Milan Lucic each committed a penalty within 39 seconds of each other and Joe Pavelski and the Sharks capitalized on both.
MVP OF THE GAME
Tyler Toffoli. The Kings forward scored two goals in a losing effort for Los Angeles.
70’s feel pic.twitter.com/fdatpYj0jH — LA Kings (@LAKings) December 23, 2015
STAT OF THE NIGHT
LA Kings forward Tanner Pearson played in his 100th career NHL game.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
Buddy the Elf makes an appearance at @LAKings game! pic.twitter.com/FEoVvbvsDh — Albert Lin (@hockeyAlbert) December 23, 2015
Santa! Oh my God! Santa's, here? I know him!
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Tonight's warm-up jerseys are signed and will be auctioned off to benefit victims on San Bernardino shootings. pic.twitter.com/4i4pUJhePG — LA Kings (@LAKings) December 23, 2015
The Kings showed off their Christmas warm-up jerseys before the game.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"We tightened the gap between us two teams so this is a huge win for us before the break." -- San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton.
NOTES
San Bernandino Mayor, Corey Davis and members of the police department were honored before the game.
San Jose center Logan Couture missed the game with a right leg injury.
RECORD
San Jose Sharks (17-15-2, 36 points) 2nd in Pacific Division
Los Angeles Kings (20-11-2, 42 points) 1st in Pacific Division
WHAT'S NEXT?
San Jose has five days off to celebrate Christmas before hosting the Colorado Avalanche at the Shark Tank on Monday, Dec. 28 at 7:30PM PST.
The Kings will stay in Los Angeles for the Christmas holiday before heading out to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Coyotes on Boxing Day at 6:00 PM PST.
