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Surging Sharks outlast Kings in shootout

Dec 16, 2008 - 8:07 AM By Jonathan Raber PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The only motivation that the San Jose Sharks need to keep their recent tear alive is coming directly from the players themselves.

Dan Boyle and Ryane Clowe scored in the first two rounds of the shootout and Brian Boucher stopped Teddy Purcell's attempt at the tie as the red-hot Sharks secured a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.

The Sharks have been virtually unbeatable over the last 13 games, improving to 12-0-1 during the stretch. They currently are off to one of best starts in league history, collecting 50 points (25-3-2) through 30 games.

"We push each other in this room," Sharks captain Patrick Marleau said. "I've never been a part of anything like this. The guys hold each other accountable. We're a fun group, but at the same time, we demand a lot from each other. I think we've been pushing each other and that's why we've had the start that we've had."

Marleau and Clowe each scored goals during regulation and Boucher stopped 26 shots for San Jose, which was able to overcome some anxious early moments.

"I thought we put our toe in the water instead of jumping in, we were a little tentative early," Sharks Coach Todd McLellan said. "We found a way to get back into it and hung in there until the end."

Matt Greene and Purcell both notched first period goals to give the Kings the 2-0 advantage less than 10 minutes in. However, it wouldn't last as they had a three-game home winning streak snapped and dropped to 1-4 in shootouts on the year.

"We played the premier team in the league right now and played pretty well against them," Kings Coach Terry Murray said. "We had opportunities, we had the lead, we had power-play opportunities that we wish we could have generated more from."

After Wayne Simmonds was rebuffed in Kings' first round of the shootout, Boyle put the Sharks ahead, beating goalie Jason LaBarbera's glove side.

Patrick O'Sullivan tied it for the Kings with a backhander in the following round, before Clowe converted a backhand of his own to for what proved to be the winner as Purcell then came up empty in the last attempt.

"I've been fortunate to score a couple of times with that move, backhand," Clowe said. "I got a long stick, long reach, and was just trying to reach around the goalie."

Kings goalie Erik Ersberg left the game with 6:54 left in the second with a lower body injury and did not return. His replacement, La Barbera entered with his team ahead, 2-1, but was not able to hold on to the lead.

Marleau evened things up at 2-2 on a short-handed goal 15:43 into the second. Ten seconds after a tripping penalty was called on teammate Boyle, the Sharks' center stole the puck from Drew Doughty and converted on the other end for his team-leading 16th tally of the season.

After falling behind by the two early goals, Clowe got one back later in the first with the Sharks on a power-play, scoring on a rebound off the boards to make it 2-1.

"It's one of those situations where you have to weather the storm a little bit, get your feet under you," Marleau said. "Hopefully, you don't get in too big a hole where you can chip away and stay in the game, and that's exactly what happened."