After falling just short in their comeback attempt in the opener of a home-and-home series between the Pacific Division rivals, the Los Angeles Kings look to get even when they host the San Jose Sharks on Saturday in the finale of the set. Los Angeles made a valiant attempt to earn at least one point Thursday, but could not overcome a three-goal deficit and dropped a 4-3 decision in San Jose. Captain Dustin Brown scored a pair of goals and Dwight King tallied with 3:20 remaining in the third period, but the Kings were unable to get the equalizer.
Logan Couture recorded two goals and an assist while Brent Burns notched one of each in his second game as a forward for the Sharks, who won in regulation for just the third time in 21 contests. The four tallies were the most by San Jose since Jan. 27, when it posted a 4-1 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks. The club had scored fewer than three goals in 14 of its previous 15 contests. The victory ended the Sharks' four-game winless streak during which it went 0-2-2.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, CSN California (San Jose), FSN West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (12-8-6): Captain Joe Thornton continues to climb the all-time offensive lists. Thornton recorded his 775th career assist Thursday, putting him one behind Jean Ratelle for 35th place. It also was his 1,104th point, giving him sole possession of 55th in NHL history. Thornton had been tied for the spot with Frank Mahovlich. Todd McLellan finally notched his 207th victory with the Sharks, making him the winningest coach in franchise history. He had been even with Ron Wilson since San Jose registered a 3-2 shootout win at Vancouver on March 5. McLellan downplayed the achievement afterward. "The important wins haven't even happened in this organization yet," he said. "There hasn't been a coach here yet who's had the opportunity to win the last game he's coached."
ABOUT THE KINGS (14-10-2): Los Angeles returns home, where it is 9-2-1 - after coming up empty on its brief two-game road trip. Brown's two-goal performance Thursday was his third of the season and second in three contests. Rookie defenseman Jake Muzzin took exception to Andrew Desjardins' hit on Colin Fraser, engaging in a fight with Desjardins. But Muzzin ultimately cost his team as he received instigating and unsportsmanlike conducts minors in addition to a fighting major. San Jose went on to score two power-play goals and take a 3-0 lead. "I didn't like seeing my teammate get hit like that, so I had to do something about it," Muzzin said. Fraser admitted the check was not dirty. "You are allowed to hit," he said. "I'll take a clean hit. If it was the other way around, I would've been trying to hit him just as hard."
OVERTIME
1. Saturday's matchup is the opener of a five-game road trip for San Jose that includes two visits to Anaheim.
2. The rematch marks the start of a five-game homestand for the Kings, who host Phoenix on back-to-back nights beginning Monday.
3. Burns had missed seven games with a lower-body injury before returning as a forward Tuesday against St. Louis.
PREDICTION: Kings 3, Sharks 1