Game Thread – Kings @ Sharks, 9/30

Los Angeles Kings 1, San Jose Sharks 1
5:00 Left, Overtime
Game Preview
WATCH: San Jose Web Stream
SOG: LAK – 25 SJS – 32
PP: LAK – 0/4 SJS – 0/6

Third Period
20:00 – Back at it for the third. Kings and Sharks, still in search of the game’s first goal.
19:48 – Anderson-Dolan nearly opens the scoring just seconds into the third period, but he rings the post off the rush. Anderson-Dolan/Maltsev/Laferriere line has been good tonight, nearly opened the scoring early third period.
17:46 – Kings head to their fourth PK of the evening, as Connauton sits.
13:09 – Doty connects with Rutta up high along the boards and he’ll sit for two minutes. Officials conferenced, ultimately settled on the two minutes.
11:36 – Big Save Dave. Closes the wicketts off a chance from the right-hand circle. Good outing thus far in his first 60 as an LA King.
10:13 – LAK Goal – Who else but Alex Laferriere? Another strong game for him and he caps it with a goal from a good area. Got a stick on a Jacob Moverare point shot, deflecting it past Chrona. 1-0.
4:43 – Rittich has been excellent, but LA has also blocked a few for him this period. Generally, defensively, the Kings have kept things to the outside.
2:47 – SJS Goal – With a delayed penalty called, San Jose takes advantage of the extra attacker. Hertl fires through traffic to knot the score at one.
0:00 We’re off to overtime!

Second Period
20:00 – Second period is a go!
17:48 – Kings take their first penalty of the night, as Pinelli sits just over two minutes into the middle stanza. First look here for the PK.
14:52 – Sharks had several shots on their man advantage but Rittich was equal to the challenge. One solid save with the shoulder, moving to his left, to keep the game scoreless. Another strong outing, thus far, for #31.
12:58 – Brandt Clarke is so good in transition. The way he just waited an extra second, to let Akil Thomas drift pass his defender, to hit him tape-to-tape entering the offensive zone was excellent.
12:42 – Kings back to the PP. Great shift for LA in the offensive zone, draws their third power play of the evening midway through the second period.
10:58 – Chromiak gets the stick slashed out of his hands, Kings will get their fourth man advantage of the game. Haven’t done a ton thus far, good opportunity here.
7:28 – Jacob Doty and Scott Sabourin drop the gloves in a battle of Ontario Reign enforcers, present and past. Two big fellas. Good scrap to add a bit of life into the building.
3:14 – Kings kill off a 5-on-3 without a ton of issue. Still scoreless, now approaching the final minute here in the second period.
0:00 – End of two periods in San Jose, still scoreless between the Kings and the Sharks.

First Period
20:00 – Kings and Sharks are underway in San Jose!
17:33 – Bit of an awkward hit from behind on Englund in the corner, Kings will get the game’s first power play early in the opening period.
13:23 – Rittich has mostly been tested from sharp angles in the early goings, Kings have generally kept San Jose to the perimeter off the rush. So far so good for 31, who stopped everything he faced but a late, garbage-time goal in Australia.
12:19 – Best chance of the night falls to Duclair, who gets a step on Moverare, but Rittich makes the poke check on the partial breakaway.
9:47 – Great tenacity from Laferriere to force Nathan Todd to make a decision. Drew a tripping minor in the process. The goals are great, but it’s those types of little plays that will stand out when it comes to NHL chances.
8:46 – Big-time block from Joe Hicketts, who gets the body in the way to prevent a cross-slot chance off the rush. Hicketts is a slick skater, known more for his play with the puck, but a solid play defensively there.
2:25 – Not a ton of offense either way, but a nice look to set up Maltsev in the left-hand circle. Chrona gets a piece of it, but it trickles through the crease and out the other side.
0:00 – There’s some low-event preseason hockey for you. 0-0 after 20 minutes for the Kings in San Jose.

Game Day in San Jose! Tonight’s game will be streamed live on SanJoseSharks.com, linked at the top of the article. I honestly have no idea if this will work, and no mention of territorial restrictions, but don’t shoot the messenger if this only works in San Jose. Regardless, the Kings radio call will be available via iHeart Radio, with the stream embedded above. Nick Nickson will be on the call from SAP Center, with Daryl Evans as the analyst.

Today’s Kings Lineup –

Anderson-Dolan – Maltsev – Laferriere
Hudon – Turcotte – Fagemo
Pinelli – Thomas – Chromiak
Ward – Helenius – Doty

Englund – Clarke
Bjornfot – Moverare
Connauton – Hicketts

Rittich
Ingham