Kings at Sharks
Two teams on a collision course for a first-round playoff matchup face off Thursday as the San Jose Sharks host the Pacific Division-rival Los Angeles Kings in the finale of the five-game season series. San Jose is second in the division but still has a chance to catch first-place Anaheim, which owns a three-point lead with one game in hand. The Sharks continue their three-game homestand that began with a 5-4 comeback victory over Edmonton on Tuesday.
Los Angeles is all but locked into third place in the Pacific as it trails San Jose by nine points and is 11 ahead of Phoenix with five games remaining. The Kings stamped their ticket to the postseason with a 4-0 home triumph over the Coyotes as three different players recorded a goal and an assist while Jonathan Quick stopped 17 shots for his sixth shutout of the season. Los Angeles won three of the first four matchups with the Sharks, including a 1-0 road victory on Jan. 27.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN2
ABOUT THE KINGS (45-26-6): Rookie Tanner Pearson, who registered his first career multi-point performance on Wednesday, has scored two of his three NHL goals against Phoenix. Defenseman Alec Martinez recorded two assists versus the Coyotes, giving him 14 points in his last 16 games. Marian Gaborik set up Anze Kopitar's goal Wednesday for his sixth point in five contests.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (48-20-9): Brent Burns and Patrick Marleau provided the heroics Tuesday, scoring 1:56 apart midway through the third period to erase a deficit after San Jose squandered a two-goal lead. Joe Thornton collected two assists against the Oilers to raise his career total to 850 - two behind Bobby Clarke for 24th place on the all-time list. The Captain trails Dino Ciccarelli (1,200) by eight points for 45th in NHL history.
OVERTIME
1. Los Angeles needs one victory to tie the franchise record set in 1990-91.
2. G Alex Stalock was named the Sharks' nominee for the 2014 Masterton Trophy.
3. Six of Kings D Drew Doughty's 10 goals this season have come on the power play.