~ (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ LOS ANGELES — San Jose had the first leadoff goal at Staples Center this year, as goalie Martin Jones and the defense in front of him won over the Kings 2-1 Saturday.

Jones was on his way to a shutout until another late game scramble gave Los Angeles a goal.

He has won his last three starts while facing an increasing amount of shots, this latest game turning away 26 of 27 shots. Both teammate Paul Martin and Coach Peter DeBoer talked about his composure. Martin said, “When something happens…not too high, not too low. He’s very focused that way, so I think for us to play in front of him, calms us to know that he’s back there.”

The Sharks captain Joe Pavelski had a goal and an assist, two points for the second straight game and now has a four game goal streak.

Pavelski scored on San Jose’s first shot of the game for the second game in a row. Teammate Joe Thornton, who returned to the scoreboard, made a quick and close pass to Brent Burns along the side, who made another quick pass to Pavelski. From the center of the right faceoff circle, he shot it into the net with teammate Tomas Hertl in front of goalie Jonathan Quick at 3:37 of the first.

Pavelski and teammate Logan Couture led the first with two shots apiece. The Kings had five giveaways to the Sharks’ one.

San Jose’s Joel Ward had to leave during the second due to a hit, but was able to return later.

The Sharks got a 5-on-3 due to calls against Tyler Toffoli for roughing and Milan Lucic for charging at 8:14. San Jose took advantage 30 seconds later. Quick saved the initial shot by Pavelski, but Couture put in the rebound. Patrick Marleau got the second assist. That gave their fourth straight power play goal and 15th in 19 games. Couture’s last goal was April 5 and also a game winner.

It looked like it was going to be another quiet third.

There were overlapping power plays at 11:28. San Jose’s Nick Spaling was called for tripping and 29 seconds later, the Kings’ Jeff Carter was called for slashing.

38 seconds after the second power play expired, Los Angeles went on the power play again.

53 seconds into the power play, Vincent Lecavalier scored, aided by Jake Muzzin and Tanner Pearson.  

The teams finished with a combined 87 hits, 40-47. DeBoer said, “It was a hard fought game. It was a man’s game out there. A lot of physical contact, a lot of battles; two teams fully invested…”

Los Angeles’ Alec Martinez was out, as were Kyle Clifford and Andy Andreoff. In was Nick Shore, Marian Gaborik, who returned after being out over two months and Jamie McBain. Coach Daryl Sutter said, “…I thought [Jamie] McBain was our best defensemen and that Gabby [Marian Gaborik] was our best winger.” It was McBain’s first career playoff game.

Game notes: In playoff Game 2 comparisons, the 2013 Round 2 game was a 4-3 score. Both teams are now even at two apiece in Game 2’s. The Kings’ Drew Doughty finished with 29:15 of ice time. The margins for missed shots and attempts blocked were 11 (17-28, 13-24 Los Angeles-Sharks). San Jose will head to home ice, starting with Game 3 Monday at 7:30pm.