LIVE Game Thread: Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks

Game 73: The Los Angeles Kings (40-23-9) host the San Jose Sharks (20-43-9) to close out the season series with their Northern California rival.

The LA Kings will look to get back to their winning wins at Crypto.com Arena after losing to Toronto on March 29th.  Grinder Jeff Mallot will make his third straight start in place  of injured Tanner Jeannot. Currently in 2nd place in the Pacific Division, the Kings will be looking to go two points clear of the idle Edmonton Oilers. The Kings and Oilers appear to be headed to a fourth straight 1st round playoff confrontation. The only question remains seems to be which squad with have home ice in this series.

San Jose has the worst record in the NHL but have had success against their Southern California rivals, winning two out the first three games in the season series. 18-year-old Macklin Celebrini has 11 points (3 G, 8 A) in the month of March and 53 points in his rookie campaign after being selected 1st overall by San Jose in the 2024 NHL Draft. Georgi Romanov will make his second career NHL start in goal tonight for the Sharks. Former King Tyler Toffoli checks in with a team leading 27 goals on the year for San Jose.

Season Series:

Oct. 24–LA 3, SJ 2

Oct. 29–SJ 4, LA 2

Nov. 25–SJ 7, LA 2

Last Ten:

LA Kings: 7-3-0

San Jose Sharks: 4-6-0

Leading Scorers:

LA Kings– Adrian Kempe, 29 goals, 58 points

SJ Sharks–William Eklund, 17 goals, 54 points

Probable Staring Goalies:

LA Kings–David Rittich, 14-13-2, 2.77 GAA, .888 SV%

SJ Sharks–Georgi Romanov, 0-1-0, 3.66 GAA, .874 SV%

1st Period:

Brandt Clarke with a shot from the point that is easily saved by Romanov.

Good right-pad save from Rittich to keep the game scoreless.

Kuzmenko forces Romanov to make a nice on his wrister from in tight.

Trevor Moore is taken down and LA will go on the power play early in the first.

5th worst power play in the NHL comes out to try to take the lead in this one.

Fiala with a lot of dangles but can’t find the net.

LA turnover creates a shorthanded opportunity for the Sharks.

GOAL: Phil Danault scores just as the penalty expires for his 8th of the season. LAK 1-SJS 0. Assists to Quinton Byfield (26) and Trevor Moore (19)

BIG stop by Rittich on a walk-in attempt by Carl Grundstrom.

Quinton Byfield comes right back the other way but Romanov denies him. 

San Jose to go on the power play. LA’s Drew Doughty goes off 2 minutes for slashing.

Now other LA King penalty. Phil Danault goes off two minutes for high-sticking. San Jose with now have a long 5 on 3 power play and an excellent chance to tie the game.

Celebrini steps into one and draws iron. 

HUGE kill by LA as San Jose squanders their 5 on 3 power play.

PENALTY PALOOZA continues. SJ penalty to Noah Gregor, two minutes for hooking.

BIG slapper from Doughty stopped by Romanov.

Sustained o-zone time by LA on this power play but still unable to convert.

GOAL: Adrian Kemp from the slot on a nice pass from Kopitar. “Juice” makes it 2-0 on his team leading 30th goal of the season.

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