Sharks Game 39 Recap: Sharks 5, Kings 2 (4/9/21)

 The Sharks get back in the win column as they defeat the Kings 5-2 Friday night in the first game of a back-to-back set. This is the Sharks' fifth win in their last six games. 

San Jose didn't necessarily get the start it wanted, as they gave up the first goal of the game to Alex Iafallo and the Kings. However, the Sharks answered back with three consecutive goals in the third from Kevin Labanc, Patrick Marleau, and Rudolfs Balcers. Here's how each first period goal turned out: Kevin Labanc went top shelf for his tenth of the season. Brent Burns shot the puck at the net and it deflected off Patrick Marleau's skate for Patty's second consecutive game with a goal. Rudolfs Balcers grabs the rebound off of Timo Meier's initial shot and goes with the backhand to put the Sharks up 3-1. 

The second period was scoreless, but near the midway point of the period, Jeff Viel and Kurtis MacDermid dropped the gloves and went at it. Towards the end of the second frame, Marcus Sorensen and Andreas Athanasiou would get in a confrontation and hug it out, in which both were called for five minutes each for "fighting." Both Sorensen and Athanasiou would end up actually fighting at the conclusion of this game. 

Early in the third, Jaret Anderson-Dolan scores to put the Kings within one. Late in the final frame, Dylan Gambrell scores on a 2-on-0 shorthanded chance with Evander Kane to get the Sharks two-goal lead back. With about a minute remaining in this game, Tomas Hertl finds the empty net to put this one away for good. 

Brent Burns recorded three assists in Friday night's contest, although he should've maybe gotten a fourth assist on the Hertl empty-netter. Evander Kane tallied two assists, while Timo Meier, Erik Karlsson, Mario Ferraro, Marcus Sorensen, and Logan Couture each recorded one assist. 

Martin Jones continues to play outstanding against the Kings, saving 32 of 34 shots against. A few milestones were reached Friday night, as Timo Meier played in his 300th NHL game and Mario Ferraro played in his 100th NHL game. 

The Sharks already have the Kings' number this season, and they conclude their season series tonight at 7:30 pm PT. Martin Jones will get the start in net once more, since he tends to play his best hockey against his former team. 

Sources: NBC Sports Bay Area/California, NHL App