It was that kind of night for the Kings. Alexander Frolov, the Kings' team leader in goals and points, missed an absolute gimme of a goal, whiffing past an open net midway through the second period. The Kings' power play, recently connecting 30 percent of the time, was held without a goal. And for the 11th time this season, their opponents have scored two goals in less than two minutes.

One day removed from being shut out by division-leading Anaheim Ducks, The San Jose Sharks asserted themselves with authority, as they scored three goals in under three minutes to distance themselves from the hapless Kings.

The Kings seemed very slow and sluggish tonight, but much of that may have to do with the long lay-off they had since their last game on Saturday. For the fourth game in a row, Dan Cloutier is in goal tonight. He is 2-1 in his previous three starts.

The Sharks don't have NHL scoring champion Jonathan Cheechoo or Milan Michalek in the lineup. Peter Harrold making his NHL debut, called up to replace Rob Blake, who is missing his first game this season. Harrold is teamed up with Lubo Visnovsky defensively.

L.A.'s Scott Thornton puts a Kevin Dallman rebound off Vesa Toskola to start the scoring off, 1-0. They reviewed the goal a long time. But there was no evidence to overturn it, so the goal stands. Derek Armstrong also got an assist on the play, however got called for a hooking penalty a half minute later.

San Jose defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored a power-play goal from the face-off circle to even the game. It was also the rookie's first NHL goal. Joe Thornton got the assist. Vlasic, a 19-year-old defenseman who made the club with a strong training camp, has the third-highest ice time of all the Shark defenseman so far this season. He also tallied an assist later in the contest.

Alexander Frolov was called for hooking late in the first, giving the Sharks a short power play to start the period.

First period: Kings 1, Sharks 1

After playing well and outshooting the Sharks in the first period, the Kings reverted to their old ways of giving up bunches of goals. L.A. gave up three goals in less than three minutes to start the second period. Steve Bernier scored on the Frolov penalty to make it 2-1. A minute later, Joe Thornton scored to make it 3-1. Thornton now has 3 points on the night, (he added a goal on the Bernier PP goal). Patrick Marleau then added a goal at the three minute mark to make it 4-1. Four of Marleau's 12 goals this season have come against L.A.

A fifth goal was added by Marcel Goc, a deflection from Scott Hannan and Mark Bell, was enough for Crawford to chase Cloutier from goal.

Second period: Sharks 5, Kings 1

The Kings came out more focused in the third. Six minutes in, Michael Cammallari appeared to redirect a Dustin Brown pass past Toskala to lift the Kings tally to 2 goals. A long review took place, since it wasn't clear in any replay whether or not the goal should stand. The refs, apparently realizing that tomorrow is Thanksgiving, gave it to Brown.

Sharks rookie Joe Pavelski makes it 6-2, when he knocks a Scott Hannan pass by Garon. That's right, Kings fans, two Sharks rookies tallied their first NHL goals against the Kings tonight. Pavelski became the 12th Sharks player to score in hist first NHL game. The Kings are always willing to help out the kids, as long as they aren't on our team. Patrick Marleau now has 3 points on the night (1 G, 2 A), joining teammate Thorton.

Visnovsky jumped in Toskala's back door, smacking a shot to make it 6-3. Lubo has points in 8 of his last 9 games. Cammy got another assist on Lubo's goal. But it too little, too late for the Kings. Frolov was held without a point for the first time in three games.

Third period: Sharks 6, Kings 3

Posted by Matt Murray at 6:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)