Game 81: Sharks 6, Kings 5 (FINAL, SO)

The Kings have clinched a playoff spot, by virtue of Dallas’ loss to Nashville. At Staples Center, it’s the final home game of the regular season. Will the Kings show their appreciation for the fans with a win? All the action is on Prime Ticket and on 1150-AM and affiliates, with all the game updates here as well…

OVERTIME
In goal: It’s still Quick vs. Niemi.
End of period: Dustin Brown got called for holding with 1:14 remaining in overtime, but the Sharks did not score. Shots were 36-31 in favor of the Kings in the game.

SHOOTOUT
Kings: Richards, save
Sharks: Clowe, save.

Kings: Brown, save.
Sharks: Pavelski, GOAL.

Kings: Kopitar, save.

THIRD PERIOD
In goal: It’s still Quick vs. Niemi.
Kings 3, Sharks 3: San Jose tied the game 1:10 into the third period. Ryane Clowe blocked Slava Voynov’s shot attempt at the Sharks’ blue line, then picked up the puck and had a breakaway with Willie Mitchell giving close chase. Clowe’s shot went off the post and into the net for an unassisted goal.
Kings 4, Sharks 3: The Kings regained the lead with a power-play goal at the 3:54 mark. Alec Martinez passed to Justin Williams, who scored on a slap shot from near the top of the right circle. Williams, who had drawn the penalty, scored his 20th goal of the season. Martinez and Willie Mitchell picked up assists, as Mitchell recorded his third assist of the game (a new career high).
Kings 4, Sharks 4: The game was tied again, after the third goal in the first five minutes of the period. Just 38 seconds after the Kings took the lead, Rob Scuderi was called for delay of game. Then, 23 seconds into the power play, Patrick Marleau took a shot, through traffic, from near the top of the left circle and beat Quick. Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton picked up assists.
Sharks 5, Kings 4: The Sharks scored a power-play goal, their third goal of the period, to take their first lead of the game with 7:23 remaining in the period. Martin Havlat scored with assists to Ryane Clowe and Patrick Marleau.
Kings 5, Sharks 5: The Kings tied the game with 3:31 remaining in the third period, with a 5-on-3 goal. Justin Williams took a centering pass from Mike Richards and, from near the inside of the left circle, beat Niemi. Anze Kopitar also picked up an assist.
End of period: The Sharks outshot the Kings 8-6 in the period. On-ice officials, remarkably, missed a late-period incident in which San Jose’s Ryane Clowe put his stick on the ice, from the bench, and impacted play.

SECOND PERIOD
In goal: It’s still Quick vs. Niemi.
Kings 2, Sharks 1: After they killed the major penalty, and another minor penalty, the Kings took the lead with a power-play goal at the 8:54 mark. Willie Mitchell took a slap shot from the middle of the blue line, and Niemi made the stop but couldn’t cover the puck. Dwight King poked at the rebound and, with four bodies in the crease, Jarret Stoll finally knocked the puck into the net.
Kings 3, Sharks 1: The Kings took a two-goal lead with 6:41 remaining in the period. After Brad Richardson forced a turnover at the defensive blue line, the Kings started a counter-attack. Willie Mitchell passed to Anze Kopitar, who entered the offensive zone and dropped a pass for Dustin Brown. Brown skated to the slot and put a sharp wrist shot past Niemi.
Kings 3, Sharks 2: San Jose made it a one-goal game with a power-play goal with 27.1 seconds remaining in the period, after Quick was called for interference. Dan Boyle spun and fired a long-range shot from the left side, through traffic. Joe Thornton, in front, tipped the puck past Quick. Logan Couture also picked up an assist.
End of period: The Kings outshot the Sharks 11-10 in the period. The Kings went 1-for-1 on the power play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill.

FIRST PERIOD
Officials: Stephen Walkom, Brian Pochmara (referees); Greg Devorski, Vaughan Rody (linesmen).
Lineups: Jeff Carter, Davis Drewiske and Kevin Westgarth are the scratches.
In goal: It’s the Kings’ Jonathan Quick against the Sharks’ Antti Niemi.
Kings 1, Sharks 0: The Kings, after a sequence of strong pressure, took the lead with a 4-on-3 goal by Alec Martinez at the 8:45 mark. Anze Kopitar’s shot from the high slot was saved, and Dustin Brown whacked at the rebound before Martinez pinched down to the left side of the net and scored on a one-timer from close range. Kopitar set a new career-high with his 49th assist.
Kings 1, Sharks 1: The Kings were outshooting the Sharks 18-4 before San Jose tied the game with 3:33 remaining in the period. Jason Demers, in the corner, pushed the puck behind the Kings’ net to Daniel Winnik, and then Demers went to the front of the net and split Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Winnik’s centering pass found Demers, who scored from close range. Dominic Moore also got an assist.
End of period: Kyle Clifford got a five-minute boarding penalty for a hit on Logan Couture, so the Sharks will be on the power play for the first 4:07 of the second period. The Kings outshot the Sharks 18-8 in the first period. The Kings went 1-for-2 on the power play and 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.