Dylan Gambrell scored the go-ahead goal with 4:37 left in the third period to help lift the San Jose Sharks to a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, moving ever closer to a playoff position in the West Division.
John Leonard took advantage of a misplay by Kings goalie Jonathan Quick behind the net, hopped on a loose puck, and fed Gambrell in front, as he scored his third of the season to help the Sharks to their fourth straight victory.
Kevin Labanc and Evander Kane each added a goal and an assist and Martin Jones finished with 35 saves as the Sharks moved into a tie for fifth place in the division with the St. Louis Blues, one point back of the Arizona Coyotes for the fourth and final playoff spot.
Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic had 5:35 of ice time in the first period but did not play in the second period. A Sharks spokesman said at the start of the third period that Vlasic was doubtful to return without providing specifics, but the defenseman did not take another shift.
The Sharks gave up a shorthanded goal to Trevor Moore with just 54 seconds left in the second period.
Moore took the puck at the Sharks’ blue line and battled with Brent Burns to get a shot on net. Jones made the save, but with puck sitting and Burns skating away, Moore whacked at the puck and it slid under Jones for his fifth goal of the season.
The Sharks had taken the lead at the 15:04 mark of the second.
Logan Couture, behind the goal line to the left of the Kings net, sent a blind pass in front to Kane, who kept the puck on his stick and outlasted Quick before he scored his 16th of the season.
The Sharks were probably lucky to be tied 1-1 with the Kings after one period.
The Sharks were outworked by the Kings in the first two minutes but were able to get the first goal at the 4:37 mark. On a second chance opportunity, Labanc had the puck in the slot and turned and fired a shot toward goalie Jonathan Quick that bounced off the legs of a couple of Kings players before winding up in the Los Angeles net.
The Kings kept pressing, though, and on a rush play, Anze Kopitar found Dustin Brown with a perfect pass, as Brown got behind Nikolai Knyzhov and redirected the puck past Jones at the 6:55 mark.
Jones finished with 17 saves in the first period, including two on a Kings power play as the Sharks killed a hooking penalty to Tomas Hertl.
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