by ldh2013 » Fri Jun 24, 2016 8:55 am
SAN JOSE, Calif. . -- The San Jose Sharks got a spark from an unusual place and turned a close game into another laugher against Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings. Fourth-liners Mike Brown and Raffi Torres scored second-period goals to erase an early two-goal deficit and the Sharks rolled to a 7-2 victory Sunday over the Los Angeles Kings and a 2-0 lead in their first-round series. "They got us going and everybody followed," coach Todd McLellan said. "You need that to have success. Success has only been two games. Weve got a lot left. But you need to have everybody stirring the drink if you will." Justin Braun, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture and Joe Thornton also scored for the Sharks, who overcame a two-goal deficit after the first period of a playoff game for just the third time in 26 tries in franchise history. Antti Niemi made 24 saves. The Sharks matched a franchise playoff record with seven goals in a game and have 13 goals through two games after managing just 10 in a seven-game loss to Quick and the Kings last year. "Hes probably the best goalie in the league, so to do that two games in a row, its an oddity," Thornton said. "Weve been working hard for our goals and the fourth line got this game back in our grip for us, but scoring seven ... just a weird night." Jake Muzzin and Trevor Lewis scored first-period goals before Quick allowed seven goals in the final two periods. Los Angeles heads home for Game 3 on Tuesday looking to get back into this series. The Kings can take comfort in the fact that the home team has won 18 of the previous 19 games between these teams, including nine in the playoffs. Los Angeles also overcame a 2-0 deficit in the first round against St. Louis last year, but those were one-goal games instead of blowouts. "I wouldnt exactly call it new," captain Dustin Brown said. "We were in the same situation last year. We came up here twice and didnt get anything that we wanted. ... Now we go home and we take care of our home ice." The Kings appeared poised to steal home-ice advantage when they scored twice in the first period and Quick responded after allowing five goals in two periods of a 6-3 loss in Game 1 on Thursday. But the Sharks seized momentum in the second period thanks to a decision to drop Pavelski to the third line and a spark from the fourth line. Known for their ability to deliver hard hits and get into fights, the line of Andrew Desjardins, Torres and Brown has set the tone for the Sharks this series. Brown pushed Slava Voynov into Quick early in Game 1 and Torres added a goal in that contest. They came through even more in Game 2 with Brown scoring his first career playoff goal on a quick shot from the slot after a turnover by Kyle Clifford to get the Sharks on the board early in the second. Midway through the period, Desjardins dropped a perfect pass to Torres, who beat Quick up high for the equalizer. Torres missed the final six games of last years series for a hit to the head of Jarret Stoll, but has made his impact felt so far in the rematch. "Any time the fourth line contributes with goals its always a bonus," Mike Brown said. "For us to put in a few here, its great for the team, its great for the guys to kind of know they have that depth in the fourth line that we can contribute." The Sharks took the lead late in the period when Braun beat Quick with a shot from the point through a screen by Tommy Wingels. Marleau, Pavelski and Couture turned it into a blowout with goals off odd-man rushes in the third before Thornton scored a power-play goal. "If were not playing the way were supposed to, having the coverage were supposed to then those types of things are going to happen," defenceman Robyn Regehr said. "Weve really got to clean that up in a hurry." The Kings were undisciplined in the final period, most notably when Mike Richards speared Couture. "He got me pretty good, a full-on spear right in front of the ref so well see what happens," Couture said. NOTES: San Joses only other playoff comebacks from two goals down after the first period were on April 23, 1994, against Detroit, and April 19, 2011, against Los Angeles. The Sharks trailed that game to the Kings 3-0 after one and 4-0 in the second before rallying for a 6-5 overtime win. ... ... The Sharks beat Colorado 7-3 on April 30, 1999. ... The Kings scratched F Jordan Nolan in place of a seventh defenceman, Matt Greene, who was on the ice for four San Jose goals. . Leave it to hitting friendly Coors Field to snap him right out of it. Leave it to this park to get the entire Arizona lineup revved up. .Y., Kevin Shattenkirk watched Rangers defenceman Brian Leetch score many big goals. . TSN 1290s coverage begins with Hustler and Lawless at 4pm ct live from the Exchange Restaurant inside MTS Centre.CLEVELAND -- The Kansas City Royals needed a big hit. Mike Moustakas delivered it in an 8-2 win Tuesday night over the Cleveland Indians. Moustakas three-run homer was the key blow in a four-run fourth inning as the Royals raised their record to 10-0 when scoring at least four runs. The burst was more than enough for James Shields (2-2), who allowed two runs and struck out nine in six innings in winning his second straight start. "Moose drove one in the seats," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "It was good to see to get on the board like that." "Thats huge," said Shields, who has 21 strikeouts in his last two starts. "Were down 1-0 right there. Moose put a good swing on it and got us the lead." Yost knew his team was in good shape with his ace in charge. "Youve got James Shields on the mound throwing his usual game," Yost said. "Nine punch-outs and combine that with what he did his last start, thats pretty impressive work." Eric Hosmer had four hits, including an RBI double in the seventh. "I really didnt have my best stuff, but I located my fastball when I needed to and I got some early outs," Shields said. "Overall, it was a good outing." Cleveland manager Terry Francona turned 55 years old Tuesday, but the Indians were unable to win a third straight game for the first time this season. "Unfortunately, Shields is pretty much the same every time we see him. With his command and aggressiveness, hes one of the best," Francona said. Danny Salazar (0-3) didnt allow a hit until the fourth, but unraveled quickly when Hosmer led off with a single, the first of five hits in the inning. Billy Butler followed with another single before Salazar retired the next two hitters. Moustakas drove a 1-1 pitch into Kansas Citys bullpen in right field, breaking a 2 for 15 slump. Alcides Escobar followed with another single, stole second and went to third on catcher Yan Gomes throwing error. Jarrod Dysons bunt hit made it 4-1. Salazar didnt get through the fifth. Hosmer doubled with onee out and scored on Butlers double. . Hosmer was 4 for 5. His seventh-inning double gave Kansas City a four-run lead and he added a single in the ninth. "After that big swing from Moose, it loosened everybody up," Hosmer said. "We know anytime Shields is on the mound its not going to take very many runs to get a win." Salazar, who pitched well in 10 starts after being called up last season, hasnt been able to find the same consistency in his first four starts. The right-hander allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings. He struck out six. Shields allowed an unearned run in the second, but held the Indians in check until the sixth. Bourns bases-loaded single put Cleveland ahead. Second baseman Omar Infantes fielding error on Asdrubal Cabreras ground ball started the rally. David Murphy singled and Lonnie Chisenhall was hit by a pitch with two outs. Bourns sharp single to right scored Cabrera. Royals catcher Salvador Perez was 0 for 5 and is hitless in his last 22 at-bats. Cleveland third baseman Carlos Santana is in a 2 for 43 skid after going hitless in four at-bats. The game-time temperature was announced at 50 degrees, but a strong wind made it feel much colder. The crowd of 8,848 barely surpassed the all-time low at Progressive Field of 8,726. NOTES: Royals 1B coach Rusty Kuntz, who suffered a broken left arm during batting practice Monday, will undergo surgery Wednesday at Cleveland Clinic. Kuntz was struck by a line drive hit by Perez. Major league coach Mike Jirschele will fill in for Kuntz for at least the remainder of the series. ... The squirrel that ran on the field during Mondays game brought back memories for Francona when he was managing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. "It was about 15 minutes before the game and there was a goat, a dog and a chicken in centre field," he said. Francona said the intruders were removed by the time the game began. ... Royals LHP Jason Vargas (2-0) faces Indians RHP Justin Masterson (0-0) in the third game of the four-game set Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ' ' '
