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Kings stay alive again behind Quick's shutout

Apr 27, 2014 - 6:33 AM San Jose, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Jonathan Quick stopped 30 shots to secure his eighth career postseason shutout, as the Los Angeles Kings staved off elimination once again with a 3-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks in Game 5 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series from SAP Center.

After avoiding a sweep with a 6-3 triumph in Game 4, the Kings scored twice in the first period Saturday and added another marker 22 seconds into the second before leaving the rest to their veteran netminder.

Quick was up to the task, posting 24 of his 30 saves over the final 40 minutes to force a Game 6 in Los Angeles on Monday.

Anze Kopitar, Tyler Toffoli and Jeff Carter each registered a goal for the Kings, who had lost their last five playoff games in San Jose.

"We gave ourselves a chance to play another game," Kopitar remarked. "It's a Game 7, obviously, for us again. We're going to enjoy this one tonight and start getting ready tomorrow."

Antti Niemi was pulled for the second straight game after allowing three goals on 19 shots. Alex Stalock took over early in the second and stopped all 22 shots he faced in relief for the Sharks, who finished 0-for-5 on the power play.

"They weren't going to roll over and die," Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle said of the Kings. "They played well. We just have to go out there and win a game."

Toffoli opened the scoring just over eight minutes into the game, as Alec Martinez foiled a San Jose scoring chance in front of the net and swatted the puck down the ice.

Tanner Pearson won a race to the loose puck near the left point in the San Jose end before sending a cross-ice feed to a trailing Toffoli, who cut into the high slot before rifling a shot past Niemi's blocker for a 1-0 lead.

The Kings doubled their lead just over four minutes later, as a 3-on-2 rush saw LA captain Dustin Brown fire a shot from the low right circle that Niemi padded away. However, Kopitar was there in front to pound home the rebound for a 2-0 lead at 12:52.

San Jose's Justin Braun was whistled for tripping with 32 seconds left in the opening frame, giving the visitors a power play to start the second.

The Kings capitalized less than 30 seconds into the second, as Carter received a pass on the low left side and tried to center the puck, but his pass went off a San Jose defender and in to make it 3-0.

Stalock took over between the pipes for San Jose and stifled the Kings the rest of the way, but Quick was just as stingy at the other end to keep the Sharks from scoring.

Game Notes

The Kings finished 1-for-4 on the power play ... Carter (two goals, three assists) and Kopitar (one goal, four assists) each have five points this series ... Quick's eight postseason shutouts are the most in franchise history ... Stalock stopped four shots in relief in Game 4.