FINAL – Kings 3, Sharks 4 (OT) – Spence, Moore, McLellan

The LA Kings collected a point but fell in overtime by a 4-3 final against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday evening.

Forward Trevor Moore had a team-high three points (1-2-3), while linemates Andreas Athanasiou and Phillip Danault each collected a goal and an assist. Goaltender Jonathan Quick took the overtime loss with 26 saves.

San Jose opened the scoring less than three minutes into the game, with their first power-play goal of the evening. On the right-hand half-wall, defenseman Erik Karlsson fed defenseman Brent Burns at the right point, where the latter one-timed his shot inside the near post and in, past a screened Quick.

The Kings came back quickly, however, with two goals in eight seconds to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission. First, Moore hit Danault for a tap-in, inside the crease, to knot the score at one. Off the ensuing faceoff, the Kings attacked immediately, with Athanasiou working his way to the top of the left-hand circle and snapping his shot past San Jose netminder Zach Sawchenko. The goals were two seconds shy of the franchise record for quickest consecutive goals.

Midway through the second period, the hosts doubled their advantage, as Moore tallied his third point of the evening. With the Kings shorthanded, Danault returned the favor from the first period, setting up Moore alone in front, where he beat Sawchenko through the five hole for his 11th goal of the season.

The Sharks brought the game back to within a goal heading into the second intermission, however, with their second power-play goal of the evening. After Quick made a save with the right pad, Nick Bonino worked his way to the top of the crease and got a stick on the rebound, deflecting it narrowly inside the post and in for his seventh goal of the season.

Less than two minutes into the third period, the Kings tied the game at three, as forward Alexander Barbanov collected his ninth goal of the season. With Karlsson on the half wall, Barbanov got his stick on the ice as he drove the net and redirected Karlsson’s feed past Quick, equalizing for the visitors.

As the teams battled into overtime, San Jose capitalized in the 3-on-3 session, as Tomas Hertl drove around the net and scored on a wraparound for the game-winning goal.

Hear from debutant Jordan Spence, Moore and Todd McLellan following tonight’s game.

Jordan Spence

Jordan Spence talks with the media following his first game#GoKingsGo | @LAKings pic.twitter.com/9xbcZeCEYh

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Trevor Moore
On tonight’s loss, and falling against San Jose
I guess they’ve had our number for a little bit now, too many penalties for sure, a little bit sloppy in spots.

On the penalties, specifically in the offensive zone
I think any kind of penalties stink, but offensive-zone penalties kind of hurt. I thought our kill did a pretty good job tonight, but it kind of deflates the team, can’t really get a lot of guys in a rhythm, things like that.

On building chemistry with Andreas Athanasiou now on his line
Yeah, two really good players, obviously. Phil does it everywhere, I think we know that by now, and Dubs is a super talented offensive guy, you get him the puck and it could be a goal at any moment. I’m fortunate to play with them.

On if getting one point tonight is acceptable, in the playoff race
No, I think that game was disappointing for us. We want to beat those guys. They’ve had our number a little bit, dating back to last year and we want to beat them. It’s another one that we let slip through.

On areas to focus on heading into the rematch on Saturday
We were a little sloppy in the neutral zone, maybe, just staying out of the penalty box and we’ve just got to get on the forecheck better. We didn’t have great dumps tonight, it played into the way they set up their breakouts. If we can clean up those things we’ll have a good chance.

Todd McLellan
On if tonight’s result
It’s a good point, considering how sloppily we played. Yawns was just saying, it was a point on a night where we probably didn’t deserve a point, so let’s move on, let’s fix a few things – a lot of things – and get ready to play again in San Jose. It’s that time of the year where you’ve got to flush it quick, you’ve got to get your game back.

On if tonight’s result was on account of missing players
No, the players that are in the lineup have to do a better job of playing. Missing players, it doesn’t help, of course we’d like to have every one of them back, but it’s a fact of life, that’s what it is. If you’re wearing a uniform, playing in the game, adjust a little bit. Do the things that we do well, well all the time and the rest will take care of itself and we didn’t do that today. Six minors, when’s the last time we took six minors, four in the offensive zone. We overworked some players, underworked others, there was no rhythm in the game. It played right into their hands, their special teams are very good. It was not a good night for us.

On his impression of Jordan Spence
I thought he did a real good job. Just think of how I spoke about our team, that’s not an easy night to come in and play. He played with Jacob, three games of total experience, they were fine. We had some experienced guys that maybe didn’t quite get it done as well as they should have. I’m happy for him, that he got the opportunity, and he didn’t disappoint.

On the penalty kill and giving up two PPG’s tonight
It starts with not taking six, because that’s 12 minutes of the game and that’s too taxing on our group. The penalty kill itself, we’re four seconds away from getting it done on the second one, the first one was a good shot, double screen, sometimes teams are going to do that to you. The second one, we pressured them enough, we had them in a bad spot, we let them off the hook and we weren’t good around our net. Four seconds left, we were through it. We have been giving up some goals at inopportune times over the last few weeks, so all of that needs to get cleaned up as well.

On Athanasiou’s play since rejoining the lineup
Dubs has had a tough year, health-wise, that’s been his biggest obstacle. When he did come back, I think he missed so much hockey, I think he forgot a little bit about how hard it is to play. He sat out a couple of games and then came back and gave us really good efforts. He was physical, he blocked shots in Boston, scored big goals on that road trip and tonight another one. He’s been the player we expected him to be. His injuries, and his in and out of the lineup, has not helped him one bit this year, it’s tough for him.

On if he wants to see more from Kopitar and Kempe
They have to pick their share up a little bit. They don’t have to score all the time, just their overall game, and I think on the power play in particular. They’re world-class players, and we have world-class players on the power play, who need to get it done. It’s as simple as that.

On what he’d like to see turned around for the two games upcoming versus San Jose
I know they have the advantage when it comes to special teams right now. Their penalty kill is number two in the league and their power play is running at 27, 28 percent in the month of February. For us to keep putting ourselves in those situations, it keeps us out of our strength. Yeah, don’t take the penalties, but polish up the penalty kill, get the power play going so it at least generates a bit of momentum. I would say that those are big factors.

On Jacob Moverare coming back into the lineup
He has been fine as well. Tough to evaluate him, because he’s in and then he’s not in for a while. He may have had the tougher task tonight, maybe a tougher job or task to come into the game, in comparison to Jordan, because Jacob’s been practicing and practices aren’t very long at this time of the year. He’s had to find a way to keep his game, without playing, while Jordan has been playing at the American League level, getting 22, 23 minutes a night.

Notes –
– Trevor Moore (1-2-3) surpassed his career-high in goals with his 11th of the season. Moore has 11 points over his last 10 games (4-7-11) and his goal tonight was his second shorthanded goal of the season, tied for the most on the team.
– Andreas Athanasiou (1-1-2) has both goals and points in three straight games.
– Phillip Danault (1-1-2) tallied his fifth multi-point game of the season. Danault has five points (2-3-5) over his last five games played.
– Olli Maatta (0-1-1) tallied an assist for the second consecutive game and posted a plus-3 rating in the overtime loss. Maatta also logged a season-high 23:58 in time on ice.
– Matt Roy skated a team-high 26:41 tonight and posted a plus-3 rating, alongside Maatta.
– Defenseman Jordan Spence logged 14:23 tonight, including 2:35 on the power play, during his NHL debut. He had an even rating and two shots on goal.

The Kings are scheduled to hold practice tomorrow morning at 11 AM at Toyota Sports Performance Center, before departing for San Jose later in the day.