Sharks End Kings' 6-Game Win Streak
SAN JOSE (AP) -- Patrick Marleau had a goal and two assists, Dany Heatley added a key power-play goal and the San Jose Sharks snapped the Los Angeles Kings' six-game winning streak with a 6-3 victory Monday night.
Heatley and Joe Pavelski each had a goal and an assist, and Antero Niittymaki made 32 saves as the Sharks reminded their upstart rivals exactly who has been on top of the Pacific Division for the past three years.
Los Angeles has jumped out to the early Western Conference lead with 12 wins in its first 15 games, but the Sharks have won four of five after a slow start. San Jose had its biggest offensive game of the season while producing the most goals scored against the Kings this year.
The clubs' physical meeting should only fuel a longtime rivalry in which both California clubs have never been outstanding in the same season. The fans certainly sensed the vibe, filling the Shark Tank with chants of "Beat LA!"
Ryane Clowe, Devin Setoguchi and Scott Nichol also scored for the Sharks, while Marleau's third-period power-play goal was the 100th of his career.
Scott Parse and Jarret Stoll scored for the Kings, who hadn't lost since Oct. 27.
Jonathan Bernier stopped 28 shots in another shaky performance by the Kings' backup goalie, who appears to be struggling to adapt to inconsistent playing time. Los Angeles allowed just six total goals during its six-game streak.
Los Angeles yielded two third-period, power-play goals after going five straight games with a perfect penalty-kill. The Kings also couldn't capitalize on an officiating blunder that produced a two-goal swing in their favor.
Late in the second period, the officials failed to notice Ryan Smyth had clearly scored for the Kings, allowing play to continue when Marc-Edouard Vlasic flicked the puck out of the net for San Jose. The teams kept playing until Torrey Mitchell scored a breakaway goal that appeared to put the Sharks ahead 4-1 with 5:14 to play.
After video review, the officials credited Smyth for his goal, wiped Mitchell's goal off the scoreboard and wound the clock back 71 seconds. The Sharks kept rolling, getting third-period goals from Marleau, Heatley and Pavelski.
The Sharks' lead was just 3-2 when Marleau slapped home a rebound of Heatley's shot early in the third period to extend his own franchise record for power-play goals into triple digits. The goal snapped a streak of 22 straight penalties killed by the Kings, who still haven't allowed a power-play goal—or a loss—at home this season.
Stoll kept it close with a slick deflection of Rob Scuderi's shot from the point with 12:54 to play, but Heatley put a shot past a screened Bernier just 43 seconds later, and Pavelski added another late power-play goal.
NOTES: The loss leaves Los Angeles one point off the best start in franchise history. The 1974-75 squad opened 10-1-5 for 25 points. ... Before the game, San Jose honored former goalie Arturs Irbe. ... The Kings' winning streak was the seventh-longest in club history.
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