We must’ve stepped into a time machine because once again, the San Jose Sharks have a two-game series lead over the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Although the Sharks would rather forget what happened the last time they faced Los Angeles under these same circumstances, it appears as if this San Jose team of now is beyond compare from that miserable 2013-14 squad. Now the question remains: can the Kings avoid the risk of falling into another 3-0 hole and exact revenge at the Shark Tank this Monday?
Let’s get up-close for round three of this heated Western Conference showdown below. Afterwards, check out our preview for Washington vs. Philadelphia for another sizzling Game 3 clash set to take center ice over in the East Coast.
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Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks Game 3 Preview
Where: SAP Center, San Jose
When: Monday, April 18, 10:30 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks – view all NHL lines
TV Broadcast: NBCS
Betting on the Los Angeles Kings
After Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks in Game 2 of the series, the Los Angeles Kings are digging deep down for answers as for how they can prevent their playoff wounds from splitting even wider.
The Kings’ top producers – Tyler Toffoli and Anze Kopitar – were virtually invisible through the first two contests. Toffoli led the team in goals scored in the regular season (31), but still has no points in the playoffs and sports a dismal minus-3 rating. Kopitar, meanwhile, only has one assist in the series after racking up a team-high 49 assists and 74 points in the season. The return of Marian Gaborik in Game 2 after a two-month layoff (knee injury) did little to help the Kings’ cause too.
L.A.’s scoring woes were evident even more so in Game 2. The team has been held scoreless for 78 minutes dating back to Game 1 of the series before Vincent Lecavalier scored the Kings’ lone goal on Saturday with just five minutes left in the final period.
Not for nothing, the Kings were actually more aggressive than the Sharks in spite of the loss. They had four more shots on goal, and won the face-offs battle with ease, 41-27. Then again, 25 of Los Angeles’ shots also missed the net entirely, squandering any better scoring opportunities that warranted better accuracy.
And as foolish as it may sound, but perhaps a change at goaltender will work out for the better for the Kings. Jonathan Quick has allowed no less than two goals in each of the two playoff bouts, and even has a 4.40 goals-allowed average in three starts against San Jose during the regular season, all losses.
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Betting on the San Jose Sharks
The final scores of the first two games of the series may appear as hotly-contested matches on paper, but it’s obvious that the San Jose Sharks are playing much better hockey than the Kings right now.
On Saturday, Joe Pavelski netted his second-consecutive goal on San Jose’s first shot of the game, giving him seven goals over his last seven games against the Kings. Pavelski has also racked up a total of nine goals and seven assists over his last 14 appearances overall, and his teammates have been recharged with his level of play.
Fan favorite Joe Thornton established himself as a solid two-way player instead of just another weapon on offense, and rookie Joonas Donskoi was welcome surprise as a defensive anchor from the Sharks’ second line.
Above all else, we can’t help but give a ton of praise to goalie Martin Jones, who had only seen 56 minutes of playoff action as Jonathan Quick’s former backup before this series even started. It might just be the extra motivation of facing his former team across the rink, but Jones’ healthy 2.00 GAA and .922 save percentage in his first two postseason starts is very encouraging for San Jose indeed.
If there’s one pitfall that the Sharks to avoid, it’s that they must not let the fevered crowd from the Shark Tank get over their heads, as they’re the only playoff team this year that finished the regular season with a sub-.500 record at home (18-20-3).
Writer’s Prediction
Déjà vu rears its nasty head once more as the Sharks win their third-straight over the Kings, 3-1.
