Programming note: Sharks-Kings coverage starts tonight at 7pm with Sharks Pregame Live on CSN California.
Series schedule
The Sharks lead the best of seven series, one game to none
Game 1 – Sharks 4, Kings 3
Game 2 – April 16, Sharks @ Kings, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3 – April 18, Kings @ Sharks, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4 – April 20, Kings @ Sharks, 7:30 p.m.
Game 5* – April 22, Sharks @ Kings, TBD
Game 6* – April 24, Kings @ Sharks, TBD
Game 7* – April 26, Sharks @ Kings, TBD
* - if necessary
Last game
Joe Pavelski scored twice, including the game-winner early in the third period, to push the Sharks to a 4-3 win in Game 1 at Staples Center on Thursday. Brent Burns (1g, 1a) and Joel Ward (2a) also had multiple-point nights for the Sharks, while Martin Jones’ 21 saves gave him the win in his first career playoff start. The Kings got goals from Jake Muzzin, Jeff Carter (power play) and a shorthanded score by Trevor Lewis in the losing effort.
Keep an eye on…
Sharks: Tomas Hertl. The third-year Sharks forward scored a key goal in the second period of Game 1, shortly after the Kings had taken a 3-2 lead. He has six points (3g, 3a) in eight career playoff games, although in his last playoff appearance in 2014, Hertl was still hindered by a right knee injury incurred in December of his rookie season. He’s healthy and thriving now.
Kings: Drew Doughty. After playing a game-high 29:19 in Game 1, the Kings’ defenseman could see even more ice time with Alec Martinez likely out again with an undisclosed injury. A minus-2 with no points on Thursday, the 26-year-old Norris Trophy candidate has 50 points (16g, 34a) in 77 career postseason games.
Probable lines
Sharks
Tomas Hertl – Joe Thornton – Joe Pavelski
Joonas Donskoi – Logan Couture – Joel Ward
Matt Nieto – Patrick Marleau – Melker Karlsson
Nick Spaling – Chris Tierney – Tommy Wingels
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Justin Braun
Paul Martin – Brent Burns
Brenden Dillon – Roman Polak
Martin Jones
James Reimer
Kings
Milan Lucic – Anze Kopitar – Marian Gaborik
Tanner Pearson – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli
Dustin Brown – Vincent Lecavalier – Kris Versteeg
Dwight King – Nick Shore – Trevor Lewis
Brayden McNabb – Drew Doughty
Jake Muzzin – Luke Schenn
Rob Scuderi – Jamie McBain
Jonathan Quick
Jhonas Enroth
Vitals (regular season)
Sharks
Goals per game: 2.89 (4th)
Goals-against per game: 2.52 (10th)
Power play: 22.5 percent (3rd)
Penalty kill: 80.5 percent (21st)
Kings
Goals per game: 2.72 (14th)
Goals-against per game: 2.34 (3rd)
Power play: 20.0 percent (8th)
Penalty kill: 81.4 percent (15th)
Injuries/Scratches
Sharks: Matt Tennyson (concussion) is on a conditioning assignment with the AHL Barracuda.
Kings: Marian Gaborik (knee) is probable. Alec Martinez (undisclosed) is doubtful. Jordan Nolan (herniated disc) and Matt Greene (shoulder) are out.
Sharks playoff record when…
The Sharks are 13-18 all-time in Game 2 of a playoff series, and 5-11 on the road.
When leading a series two games to none, the Sharks are 6-2 all-time in a series. When tied 1-1, they are 8-5.
The Sharks are 11-10 all-time against the Kings in the playoffs.
Odds and ends
*The Sharks won on Thursday without Joe Thornton getting a point. Thornton had at least one point in each of the Sharks’ final 33 regular season wins.
*San Jose improved to 17-15 all-time in series openers with Thursday’s win.
*Milan Lucic, who had two assists in Game 1, has 13 career multi-point playoff games.
Quotable
“You enjoy it for maybe two or three slices of pizza, and move on. Maybe four slices of pizza.” – Brent Burns, after Game 1
