April 16, 2011
SHARKS PAGESHARKS VIDEO
NHL STANDINGSNHL SCOREBOARD
Sharks (49-25-9) vs. Kings (46-30-7)
Sharks lead series 1-0
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Starting Goalies
Sharks: Anti Niemi made 33 saves on 35 shots in Game 1 of the series. During the regular season, Niemi posted a 2.38 goals against average.
Kings: Jonathan Quick did his best to keep Los Angeles in Game 1, stopping 42 of 45 shots. Quicks regular season goals against average was (2.24) the fifth best in the NHL.
Previous games
News
Despite Quicks effort in net, the Sharks were able to take Game 1 in overtime thanks to Joe Pavelskis game-winner. They are averaging just under four goals per game in their last 15 games, a stretch over which San Jose went 10-3-2.
Los Angeles entered the playoffs on a milder note, having lost four of their final six regular-season contests.
Head-to-head
These clubs split their six-game series during the regular season, with the Sharks scoring 18 goals to the Kings 15. Both clubs shut the other out once, and Los Angeles won both of the overtime contests in shootouts.
Patrick Marleau played in all six games against the Kings this season and totaled eight points on three goals and five assists. Pavelski and Devin Setoguchi also had three goals each against Los Angeles during the regular season and Ryane Clowe had three assists in the postseason opener.
The Kings Dustin Brown posted four goals against San Jose this season and added another in Game 1.
Whos hot?
Though Niemi and the Sharks got the win in the series opener, Quick played terrific. His 42 saves marked his second-highest total of the season. Pavelski has recorded at least a point in 12 of his last 14 games, totaling eight goals and 13 assists over that span.
Storylines
With Quick playing well between the pipes for Los Angeles, the explosive Sharks offense will be put to the test in Game 2. San Jose averaged a league-best 34.5 shots per game during the regular season, but Quick posted six shutouts on the year.
Sound off
Should the Kings Jarret Stoll have been whistled for boarding after the hit that knocked Ian White out of the game?