April 21, 2011RATTO ARCHIVESHARKS PAGESHARKS VIDEO
Ray RattoCSNBayArea.com
LOS ANGELES -- After scuffling through the first 2 12 games of this series, most noticeably allowing eight consecutive scores, San Jose has now scored 12 of the last 16 goals and is in position to overcome one of its greatest postseason hurdles -- the game high-seed.
The Sharks have lost to an eight-seed, a seven, a six- and a five- since 2004, but have established themselves as the better team in this matchup. They cannot face another high seed in these playoffs unless either Chicago beats Vancouver, or a high seed slips through the East.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
RELATED: Sharks sweep Kings in L.A. for 3-1 series lead
The fourth line that basically didn't play in Game 3 got more time in game 4. Scott Nichol, Ben Eager and Jamal Mayers played twice as many minutes (14) as they did in Game 3, after speculation that either Eager or Mayers might be scratched. Nichol was called for a misconduct penalty late in the game when tempers rose; there were 36 penalty minutes in the final 3:14.
RATTO: Sharks discover cure for 3-goal lead in Game 4
The Kings outshot the Sharks for the first time in the series, 38-27, but again got handled in the faceoff circle, 38-26, with Joe Thornton going 16 for 24, mostly against Michal Handzus . . . Ian White had two more assists, and has five for the series despite missing much of Game 1 and all of Game 2 after being hit by Jarret Stoll. Kyle Wellwood also had two assists, and has been a pleasant surprise on the third line. The Sharks scored their final three goals in the third period on only four shots. The family of Bryan Stow, the paramedic who was beaten at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day, attended last night's Sharks game as guests of the team, and met several of the players afterward. Stow's father had never attended a hockey game before despite the fact that he was born in Manitoba.