Kings 1 - 2 Sharks
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Clowe nets SO winner as Sharks top Kings

Dec 24, 2011 - 7:21 AM San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Ryane Clowe scored in the fourth round of the shootout to lift the San Jose Sharks over the Los Angeles Kings, 2-1, at HP Pavilion.

Clowe started down the right side of the ice and faked a shot before cutting across to the left and lifting a wrister into the top-left corner past Jonathan Quick for the game winner.

Mike Richards had a chance to keep the shootout going, but his backhanded attempt was stuffed by Antti Niemi.

"I thought both goaltenders were real sharp," Sharks head coach Todd McLellan said. "They both played well and both goaltenders played well in the shootout."

Logan Couture scored San Jose's lone goal in regulation while Niemi made 28 saves in the Sharks' fourth straight win.

Richards notched a power play goal for the Kings, who had won three of their last four games entering Friday's action but fell to 1-0-1 under new head coach Darryl Sutter, who was named to the position on Tuesday.

Quick stopped 34-of-35 shots.

After a scoreless first period, San Jose notched the first goal of the game at the 7:53 mark of the second with a Couture one-timer from the high slot that rifled past the glove of Quick.

But Couture's interference penalty in the closing minutes of the frame led to the Kings tying the game.

Anze Kopitar held the puck in the left corner of the offensive zone and spun away from a defender before sliding a pass to Richards at the right circle. Richards kicked the puck to his stick before finishing with a wrister into the far side of the net.

The Sharks had a couple of power play opportunities in the third period, but could not capitalize as Quick stopped all 14 shots he faced in the frame.

Niemi made nine stops in the third to force overtime.

"I was fine with the effort," said Sutter. "We scored a power play goal, our penalty kill did a heck of a job and at the end of the day it was left to the two goalies."

Game Notes

This was the third of six meetings between the teams this year with San Jose holding a 2-1 margin as the home team has won each contest...The Sharks improved to 12-6-1 as the host this year, while the Kings fell to 7-5-4 as the guest...San Jose went 0-for-5 on the power play...Los Angeles was 1-for-3 with the man advantage.






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