Waking up with the Kings: April 25

-Similar to Game 3, the Kings and Sharks were involved in an evenly played playoff game. Similar to Game 3, the Kings’ top players etched out a fine performance. Similar to Games 1, 2 and 3, two efficient offenses got pucks and bodies to the net and created situations and a cadence that San Jose is more comfortable playing in, though Los Angeles found some success in adapting to at home. The four goaltenders to have participated in this series have combined to stop 240 of 272 shots for an .882 save percentage, an anomalous rate far below the .919 save percentage the two teams combined for during the regular season. If the Kings are to bring this series back to Los Angeles for a Game 6, they’re going to have to allow far fewer quality opportunities than those generated in Games 1 and 2, and Jonathan Quick is going to have to build off his sturdy Game 3 performance. A game in which the Sharks cross the threshold of 35 shots on goal isn’t likely to bode well for the Kings, though Antti Niemi’s performance through the first four games – really, in Games 3 and 4 – isn’t trending firmly in the way the Sharks are comfortable with. It was something that Marian Gaborik mentioned after Wednesday’s practice: Los Angeles did a fine job of getting to the visiting goaltender, a development that was continued on Thursday night.

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-The play of the Kings’ rookies stood out in this game, though they’ll still have to answer questions as to whether they’ll be able to maintain their strong play without favorable match-ups and in the hostile environment up north. Tanner Pearson had legs in the first period; he was moving his feet, playing physical, and ultimately was credited with five hits in 9:43 of ice time. Tyler Toffoli took 20 minutes to get going, but he was very good in the final two periods and illustrated his knack for finding soft spots where goals are scored. His late second period insurance goal was the most important goal of the game.

It wasn’t a rebound, it was a loose puck – sorry, I was updating the blog and didn’t get a good view of the goal – but you get the idea. The ability to establish the important and elusive two-goal lead was a major turning point. By following up a goal in the final minute of the second period with Marian Gaborik’s snipe in the first minute of the third period, the Kings put themselves in position to withstand a mid-third period power play goal and win the game.

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-The emotion was ratcheted back up a notch in Game 4 and was simmering to a boil when the final horn sounded. Dustin Brown’s compete level was a constant throughout the game and seemed to irk the visitors, while Kyle Clifford and Willie Mitchell appeared to both raise their games and exhibit an elevated emotional level. It’s the Stanley Cup Playoffs; this isn’t quite breaking news. It was actually surprising to see the Sharks engaging the Kings as heavily and as frequent as they were in a series they still have a firm command of. Whatever level of distaste there was in Game 4, expect it to be enhanced in Game 5 as Los Angeles faces another do-or-die situation and the San Jose looks to strengthen its grasp on the series and avoid a return trip to Southern California.

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