Considering this game was not televised in Los Angeles, rather than a traditional post game blog, here is some in game live blogging and stream of conscious thoughts from a tired still working Kings' blogger 10:15 and counting...
For starters, I think I owe Brian Hayward an apology…. Drat! Apparently, the first thing opponent commentators have to discuss is that the Kings have played 7 net minders this year (or 11 in the last two seasons, but who wants to keep track...). Here, the Kings attempt to continue this year’s road dominance over the Sharks. Considering the Sharks are on a 17-2 tear since the Campbell trade (more or less), and this is the best winning tear of near everyone on the Sharks with a pulse including Wilson, Los Angeles has its work cut out for them. Ya think?
Ivanans must have sensed that the Kings needed a wake-up call considering the Sharks had outshot the Kings 11-1 within the first nine minutes (really), so he takes on Shelley. Both the enforcers hold their own and the game continues. Absent Ersberg, who by all accounts may be the only King who started the game from the minute the linesman dropped the puck, the visitors are darn lucky to have no goals against through the first half of the first.
Matt Ellis gets some well deserved ice time and Nabakov makes a better stop on a sweet scoring opportunity. (Memo to Crawford let Ellis play more than predominantly PK ice.)
Jody Shelley’s Dad talks about what it is like to watch his son play and fight:
“It is his job and he loves to come to the arena and do his job every night. Shelley’s Mom raised her son to do community work and help out where needed. This is an example he took to heart and practices as an NHL player. Finally, (apparently) Shelley likes to dance and has a certain affinity for it.”
The commentators talk about having a special segment with Shelley dancing. That gets me to thinking; I want a dance off between Shelley and Jack Johnson’s Dad.
Earlier this year when I looked for background on the Kings’ injured rookie, I learned that the Michigan crowds at Jack’s college games made Johnson Sr. a bit of a cult favorite as he would dance for the crowd. Note to self: Have Kings’ crew find Jack’s Dad in the “Dance for your Dinner” segment at home games, perhaps I can finally watch someone with rhythm who will earn their dinner without some bad “Saturday Night Fever” dance moves. Seriously.
Finally, sadly, the Sharks finally score on a Mike Grier finish with a set-up from Rissmiller off an atypical rebound from Ersberg at 19:49. Hence, the home team continues their trend of scoring the first goal of the game in now 53 games. This does not bode well for a Kings’ “W”. On the other hand, the race for last place gets a bump.
At the end of the first, the Sharks actually had 13 shots on goal (or 2 in the last 9 minutes of the first) and the Kings had a scant three total... Yikes!
Matt Ellis takes a penalty preventing a scoring opportunity. On the PK, the referees miss a call when Klemm trips Marleau. Instead, to add insult to injury (if you are rooting for the Sharks), O’Sullivan takes off on a short handed opportunity and connects for an even score against 9th round pick Nabakov unassisted.
The commentators respond off of an atypical discussion over which team has the best dressed coach (really). Crawford is shown in a nice blue/gray number without stripes (a suggestion by the Sharks’ guys apparently) and there is Wilson in a manly coral shirt and gray number. (This is the end of the Project Runway segway, now back to the game.)
Meanwhile, karma works and Marleau scores a PP goal from a Roenick helper to regain the lead. Campbell also gets a helper. It turns out either Doug Wilson really did his homework or got lucky as Campbell and Thornton played together in younger days where Thornton was more a scorer then.
Armstrong does some strong forechecking around the boards. Frolov carries Mitchell and the puck (Frolov wins) and passes unbelievably to Ivanans who scores his sixth of the year. Tie score. Woo Hoo.... That makes 2 goals on 8 shots.
The Sharks’ crew talks about how deadly (really) the Kings can be in the third and prod the home team to seal this game in the middle period. (Where the Kings have allowed 25+ more goals than they have scored this year.... Ouch!)
Michalek finishes on a Thornton pass and the Sharks regain the lead at 14:06. In one Thornton motion, the pass connects on a much needed goal by Michalek who was in the midst of a scoring drought. Thornton continues his NHL assist lead with that effort.
On Sharks’ Fan Appreciation Night, the chants change from “Beat L.A.” “Beat L. A.” “Beat L.A.” to “M.V.P.” over and over after the fans see the last goal replayed where Thornton’s efforts show prominently. A well deserved sign of appreciation to Jumbo Joe.
There is then perhaps a momentum changer with a McLaren penalty. That is followed by major Kings’ pressure where they do everything but score, no doubt helped by a Pavelski shot block, which definitely hurt, him that is! Los Angeles is excelling at maintaining possession and passing away from the PK unit of San Jose. Alas, three shots but no score for Los Angeles.
Before the close of the second, Blake takes an interference penalty. The period ends with no PP goal, but over a minute of PP time to start the third. Thankfully, the third starts and the Kings effectively kill that infraction.
The third proceeds and the score remains the same through half. Willsie takes issue with a potential non-call. To add insult to injury, if you are Willsie, and perhaps playing in your last NHL season, he has a point... yikes!
The Sharks go on the power play and Visnovsky gives Ersberg quite the assist as it is nearly miraculous the Sharks don’t score there. Actually, Lubomir shows he might have played softball as a kid when he saves the puck from mid-air after a sure goal absent his Herculean efforts.
Egad, Curtis Brown now makes it 4-2 on a bad Kings’ give-away which should seal it off a gratuitous bounce against the visitors. With a two goal lead going into the final three minutes, it will take a huge turnaround to turn this into a Los Angeles victory. Suffice it to say, that should be a permanent bump in the Kings’ bid for last place with the draft lottery now set to go forward and be televised on April 8, 2008 at 4 p.m. PST. That may just be the most important day for the Kings this season once the playoffs became a non-issue. *ugh*
Some ugly exchanges physically between Shelley and Ivanans and the Kings end up a man down. Crawford puts an exclamation mark on the affair, argues without success (perhaps letting a season’s frustration get to him) and the Kings get an extra two for unsportsmanlike conduct – which by the way, was definitely earned by the much gelled Crawford.
The Sharks score predictably with a two minute two man advantage. The game is the first home victory by San Jose against the Kings this year with Nabakov in net. That makes a scary 18-2 run. Giving full marks, San Jose earned this one. The visitors were lucky to be in this game at all. The end score shows the Sharks’ dominance. Prior to the last half of the third, it was actually only a one goal game, on the scoreboard that is.
Campbell gives a post game on-ice interview. He experiences the first Sharks’ home victory against the Kings and as a newcomer to this rivalry; he seems unaffected by the teams’ battles this year. If he becomes more than a rental, I am sure he will get caught up quick....
Carla Muller Carla.hockeygal@att.net
CarlaMuller
The Sharks End the Kings' Home Dominance in San Jose 
