Category Archives: Stanley Cup playoffs

Game 2 report: Sharks 2, Kings 1

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Key play: Logan Couture’s power-play goal proved to be the difference for the San Jose Sharks in a 2-1 victory Saturday over the Kings in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series at Staples Center. Couture’s second-period putback of Joe Pavelski’s initial try propelled the Sharks to a 2-0 series lead.

Pivotal performer: Pavelski gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead only 3:37 in the game, his third goal in two contests in the best-of-7 series. He also assisted on Couture’s game-winning goal to give him a series-leading four points. He had three shots on goal and won seven of eight faceoffs.

Quote, unquote: “We’ve got to do a better job of getting traffic and getting guys to the net, fighting through box-outs and getting those second- and third-chance opportunities,” Kings left wing Lucic said. “Right now, we’re not doing a good enough job of it. We need to figure it out quick if we want to turn things around. We’ve got to stop playing with frustration and start playing with determination.”

Welcome back: Right wing Marian Gaborik returned to the Kings’ lineup for the first time since spraining his right knee Feb. 12. He was scoreless on four shots on goal in 14:32, playing with a variety of linemates as Kings coach Darryl Sutter mixed and matched his combinations.

Injury update: Kings defenseman Alec Martinez did not play after he was forced from Game 1 after two periods because of an undisclosed injury. Martinez sat out the final four regular-season games because an unspecified injury. His status for Game 3 is unknown. Jamie McBain took Martinez’s spot in the lineup.

LA Kings morning skate report: Marian Gaborik back in the lineup for Game 2 and Alec Martinez out?

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Right wing Marian Gaborik was back in the Kings’ lineup Saturday for Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center. Defenseman Alec Martinez was out of the lineup after an abbreviated return to it Thursday for Game 1.

Or so it seemed.

Gaborik skated on a line with center Anze Kopitar and left wing Milan Lucic during the Kings’ morning stake at Staples Center. Kings coach Darryl Sutter later said Gaborik’s first game since spraining his right knee Feb. 12 against the New York Rangers would be a coach’s decision at game time.

“He’ll go through warmup and he’ll declare himself,” Sutter said of Gaborik, who had 12 goals and 22 points in 54 games when he was injured in the game at Madison Square Garden. “He’s been medically cleared, so it becomes a coach’s decision.”

Gaborik was not immediately available for comment.

Martinez, who has an unspecified injury, didn’t skate with his teammates and there was no locker stall set up for him inside the Kings’ dressing room. It appeared Jamie McBain would take his place and make his playoff debut after playing 345 regular-season games in the NHL.

“It’s still the same game,” McBain said, who yielded to Martinez for Game 1 after filling in for him for the final four games of the regular season. “There might be a little bit more physicality, but at the end of the day, it’s still the same game.”

LA Kings defenseman Drew Doughty talks about playing a greater role of Alec Martinez can’t play in Game 2

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A full story will be up on the Daily News website soon, but here’s what Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said Friday about playing more minutes and shouldering a heavier burden if Alec Martinez can’t play in Game 2 against the Sharks:

“I’m ready for whatever if he can’t play.  If I need to play 30 minutes, that’s great. If not, I’ll play 25 minutes. Either way, I have to play the same way. I have to be more emotionally involved in the game. I can play better than I did and I can lead us better than I did. The next game, I’ve got to step up and do that.”

First look: Kings vs. Sharks

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KINGS vs. SHARKS

Records: Kings 48-26-6, 102 points (second in the Pacific Division); Sharks 46-30-6, 98 points (third in the Pacific).

Season series: Sharks 3-1-1.

Results: Sharks won 5-1, Oct. 7 at Los Angeles; Kings won 4-1, Oct. 22 at San Jose; Sharks won 5-3, Dec. 22 at Los Angeles; Kings won 3-2 (OT), Jan. 24 at San Jose; Sharks won 5-2, March 28 at San Jose.

Kings leading scorers: Center Anze Kopitar (25 goals, 49 assists), center Jeff Carter (24 goals, 38 assists), right wing Tyler Toffoli (31 goals, 27 assists).

Sharks leading scorers: Center Joe Thornton (19 goals, 63 assists), right wing Joe Pavelski (38 goals, 40 assists), defenseman Brent Burns (27 goals, 48 assists).

Kings top goalie: Jonathan Quick (40-23-5, 2.22 goals-against average, .918 save percentage, 5 shutouts).

Sharks top goalie: Martin Jones (37-23-4, 2.27 goals-against average, .918 save percentage, 6 shutouts.)

Schedule

Game 1: Staples Center, Thursday, 7:30 p.m., CNBC

Game 2: Staples Center, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN

Game 3: San Jose, April 18, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN

Game 4: San Jose, April 20, 7:30 p.m., USA

Game 5 (if necessary): Staples Center, April 22, TBD, TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): San Jose, April 24, TBD, TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): Staples Center. April 26, TBD, TBD

First look: Ducks vs. Predators

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DUCKS vs. PREDATORS

Records: Ducks 46-25-11, 103 points (first in the Pacific Division); Predators 41-27-14, 96 points (fourth in the Central).

Season series: Predators 2-1.

Results: Predators won 5-1, Oct. 22 at Nashville; Ducks won 4-2, Nov. 1 at Anaheim; Predators won 3-2, Nov. 17 at Nashville.

Ducks leading scorers: Center Ryan Getzlaf (13 goals, 50 assists), right wing Corey Perry (34 goals, 28 assists), center Ryan Kesler (21 goals, 32 assists).

Predators leading scorers: Center Filip Forsberg (33 goals, 31 assists), defenseman Roman Josi (14 goals, 47 assists), left wing James Neal (31 goals, 27 assists).

Ducks top goalies: Frederik Andersen (22-9-7, 2.30 goals-against average, .919 save percentage, 3 shutouts); John Gibson (21-13-4, 2.07 goals-against average, .920 save percentage, 4 shutouts).

Predators top goalie: Pekka Rinne (34-21-10, 2.48 goals-against average, .908 save percentage, 4 shutouts).

Schedule

Game 1: Honda Center, Friday, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN

Game 2: Honda Center, Sunday, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN

Game 3: Nashville, April 19, 6:30 p.m., USA

Game 4: Nashville, April 21, 5 p.m., CNBC

Game 5 (if necessary): Honda Center, April 23, TBD, TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): Nashville, April 25, TBD, TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): Honda Center, April 27, TBD, TBD

Ducks can clinch Pacific Division with a victory over the Capitals

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The Kings’ 4-3 shootout loss Saturday to the Winnipeg Jets at Staples Center in their regular-season finale means the Ducks can clinch their fourth consecutive Pacific Division championship with a victory of any kind Sunday over the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center. All they need are two points.

The Kings finished the regular season 48-28-6, 102 points.

The Ducks are 45-25-11, 101 points with one game to go.

The division winner will play the Nashville Predators in the first round. The second-place team in the Pacific will play the San Jose Sharks. The Kings and Ducks have each secured home-ice advantage for the first round.

Ducks, Kings Stanley Cup playoff fun fact

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The Ducks and Kings cannot determine the champion of the Pacific Division and the No. 2-seeded spot that goes with it when they face off Thursday at Staples Center. Even if the Ducks were to win in regulation play, they couldn’t clinch their fourth consecutive division title while denying the Kings their first since 1990-91. The Ducks have three games remaining and the Kings have two. The earliest the division could be settled is Saturday.

Game report: Ducks 8, Flames 3

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Key play: Corey Perry’s goal 57 seconds into the game propelled the Ducks to a x-x victory Wednesday over Calgary, sending them past the idle Kings and into first place in the Pacific Division. The Ducks’ win also was their 23rd in a row over the Flames at the Honda Center, dating to 2003-04.

Playoff update: The Ducks (43-23-10, 96 points) lead the Kings (45-26-5, 95 points) by one point and the third-place Sharks (43-28-6, 92 points) by four. The Kings can retake first place with a victory Thursday over the Flames at Staples Center.

Quote, unquote: “You know what? We’re not even talking about that,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said of chasing a fourth consecutive Pacific Division championship. “We’ve got six games left. Let’s play as well as we can. No matter who choose in the playoffs, it’s going to be a battle. We’ve won the division three years in a row, it’s not a big deal for us.”

Pivotal performer: Ducks center Ryan Kesler had a career-high four points (one goal, three assists) in his second game back in the lineup after a two-game absence to attend to a family matter. He also won 12 of 18 faceoffs (67 percent) as the Ducks went 38-25 in the circle (60 percent).

Injury update: Ducks goalie John Gibson left the game after teammate Hampus Lindholm accidentally crashed into him midway through the second period. Frederik Andersen replaced Gibson for the final 9:40 of the second before Gibson returned to the net to start the third.