Kings 2, Sharks 1 (OT)
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Tanner Pearson scored at 3:47 of overtime to give the Los Angeles Kings a 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center Monday night.
Pearson's overtime winner enabled Los Angeles to cut San Jose's lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series to 2-1. Game 4 is Thursday in San Jose.
Los Angeles snapped a streak of five consecutive overtime losses to San Jose, while the Sharks lost only their second overtime game in 12 tries.
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick made 29 saves for the win, while Sharks goaltender Martin Jones topped 22 shots.
The third period was scoreless as the Sharks outshot the Kings 8-4. San Jose had two more power plays in the period but couldn't manage a shot on either advantage, making them 0-for-5 through 60 minutes.
Special teams were the story of a scoreless second period.
The Sharks enjoyed two power plays but failed to convert. The Kings went on a late-period power play, but they too managed two shots without converting.
Quick was sharp during the middle session. He denied Chris Tierney one-on-one after San Jose's Nick Spaling forced a turnover and fed his teammate in front. Quick also stopped a Logan Couture blast and Joonas Donskoi's follow attempt inside the final two minutes of the second period.
The Kings, who didn't manage their first shot of the period until 8:45, had a chance when Kyle Clifford stripped Jones, who scrambled back to save what would have been an embarrassing goal.
The Sharks and Kings were tied 1-1 after a fast-paced first period that saw Los Angeles get the better of shots (13-7) on the strength of its power play.
San Jose broke on top just 30 seconds after the opening faceoff when Joe Thornton scored his first goal of the series. Sharks left winger Tomas Hertl benefitted from a Milan Lucic turnover, and he slipped a pass to Thornton, who moved to the slot and fired a low wrist shot that found its way past Quick.
The Sharks had an opportunity to score again but couldn't hit the net on a power play.
The Kings, meanwhile, needed only 20 seconds on their first power play to tie the game.
Anze Kopitar, who had a big first period, slammed home his first goal of the series off a cross-ice feed from Lucic. The sequence started when Los Angeles defenseman Jake Muzzin put a shot on goal from the left point that Jones stopped, but the rebound squirted right to Lucic.
The Sharks were lucky to escape a second short-handed situation following Spaling's trip at 11:50. The Kings put four quick shots on goal during the first 25 seconds of the power play, and they finished with five shots in all without converting.
NOTES: Kings D Alec Martinez missed his second straight game in the series. He did not participate in the morning skate, nor did he had a locker stall in the visitors' room. Los Angeles' only change for Game 3 was LW Kyle Clifford dressed in place of C Nick Shore on the fourth line. ... The Sharks have gone with the same lineup for each of the first three games. ... San Jose outscored Los Angeles 4-1 during even strength in the series' first two games. ... The Sharks were 20-11 all-time in Game 3s before Monday, including 11-5 at home. ... The Kings were 18-26 all-time in Game 3s before Monday, and are 3-10 all-time when losing the first two games of a best-of-seven. ... C Dainius Zubrus, C Micheal Haley and D Dylan DeMelo were healthy scratches for San Jose, while LW Andy Andreoff, C Nick Shore and D Kevin Gravel did not dress for Los Angeles.