Sharks 3, Kings 2
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The power play found redemption as the San Jose Sharks held on to beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 at a sold-out SAP Center Wednesday night.
The Sharks, who went 3-for-4 on the power play one game after going 0-for-5, lead the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series 3-1.
The victory moves San Jose within one win of advancing to the second-round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Game 5 is Friday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
San Jose's 3-0 third-period lead looked safe when Patrick Marleau scored the team's third power-play goal of the game 1:40 into the session, and only five seconds into defenseman Jamie McBain's high stick of rookie Joonas Donskoi.
But the Kings scored twice of just under four minutes to make it a one-goal game. First Trevor Lewis touched a Luke Schenn drive from the blue line through Martin Jones, a goal that stood following a coach's challenge for goaltender inference at 2:49.
Then Schenn scored his second career playoff goal with another blast from the point, this one through a maze of bodies lined up in front of Jones at 6:44 also at even strength.
San Jose struck twice in the second period on the strength of its power play.
Defenseman Brent Burns scored his second of the series at 2:09 to break a scoreless tie. He one-timed a cross-ice no-look seam pass from Joel Ward just inside the near post to beat Kings goalie Jonathan Quick.
After killing consecutive minors, the Sharks went back on the advantage and scored again with defenseman Rob Scuderi in the box for tripping Tomas Hertl at 8:42.
This time it was Joe Pavelski connecting for the fourth time in the series. He punched home a perfect feed from behind the net by Joe Thornton. Pavelski gained position on Drew Doughty and Jeff Carter.
NOTES: The Sharks went with the same lineup for a fourth straight game. ... The Kings did not make any changes from Game 3 to Wednesday. ... Kings coach Darryl Sutter confirmed D Alec Martinez (undisclosed injury) did not make the trip, but is skating on his own in Los Angeles. Martinez left Game 1 after blocking a shot, an injury unrelated to why he missed the Kings' final four regular-season contests. ... D Matt Greene (shoulder) continues to skate on his own. He has missed all of the regular season and playoffs except for the first three games of the regular season. ... Los Angeles has been the opponent for San Jose's last 18 playoff games, a streak that will extend to at least Friday's Game 5. ... LW Micheal Haley, C Dainius Zubrus and D Dylan DeMelo were San Jose's healthy scratches while C Andy Andreoff, C Nick Shore and D Kevin Gravel did not dress for Los Angeles.