Sharks defeat Kings for 10th win in 12 games

SAN JOSE -- Martin Jones made 33 saves for the San Jose Sharks in a 4-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings at SAP Center on Friday.

Noah Gregor scored his first NHL goal, and Erik Karlsson had two assists for the Sharks (14-12-1), who won for the 10th time in 12 games.
"After the last game (a 5-1 loss to Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday), we really wanted to fix some things, and getting the first goal was really important," San Jose coach Peter DeBoer said. "It was a nice bounce-back game after last game."
WATCH: [All Kings vs. Sharks highlights]
Jonathan Quick made 18 saves for the Kings (10-14-2), who are 5-3-1 in their past nine.
"Bottom line is we weren't good enough," Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said. "We didn't have legs. We didn't execute passes. We were a step too slow mentally and physically."

Kyle Clifford scored for the Kings with 1:49 remaining to make it 4-1 and end Jones' bid for his 23rd NHL shutout.
"If you have to pick out something to be disappointing," Jones said of losing the shutout late. "Defensively, offensively, we were real good."
Gregor scored with a wrist shot just inside the right post from the left face-off dot at 2:58 of the second period to give San Jose a 3-0 lead. It was the forward's 11th NHL game.
"It took a little bit, but it was awesome to see that puck go in," Gregor said.
Sharks forward Patrick Marleau said: "You can hear the fans when they announce it's your first goal -- they're happy for you. It was a great goal, a great shot."
Logan Couture gave San Jose a 4-0 lead at 14:42 of the second. Karlsson's wrist shot from the point was redirected by Barclay Goodrow in the high slot before Couture got his stick on it from just outside the crease.

"We started the second period feeling pretty good, and we put together a few offensive-zone shifts," Kings defenseman Joakim Ryan said. "We were getting chances, and we just couldn't get them by Jones."
The Sharks scored twice on four shots on goal in the first period.
"It's important to get that lead," center Joe Thornton said. "We didn't have a very good game last game, and we addressed that yesterday. To get two quick ones was huge and follow up in the second period to get two more, it was a good game."
Marleau scored to cap a tic-tac-toe passing play with Marcus Sorensen and Thornton to make it 1-0 at 7:26. Marleau moved past Johnny Bucyk for 27th in NHL history with 557 goals. It was his 514th with the Sharks.
"Some of those names around Patty are just incredible, and watching him catch more is going to be fun," Thornton said.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored on a delayed penalty for a 2-0 lead at 13:14. It was the defenseman's fourth goal after he had three in 72 games in 2018-19.
"They had far more energy than we did, but they didn't run away with the game," McLellan said.

They said it

"It was a little weird being on the visitors' side. But I really enjoyed my time here and made some good friendships. But there are no friends once the game starts."-- Kings defenseman Joakim Ryan on facing his former team in San Jose for the first time
"We've got a lot of veteran guys in here. It's nothing new. You go through it every year. You go through tough stretches. It's important to get it turned around and not let it spiral." -- Sharks goalie Martin Jones on rebounding from a 4-10-1 start

Need to know

Sharks forward Antti Suomela left the game at 12:54 of the third period after he was hit by Kings defenseman Kurtis MacDermid. DeBoer said he thought Suomela would be OK. MacDermid was assessed an interference minor. ... San Jose forward Tomas Hertl did not play the final 11:18 for what DeBoer said were precautionary reasons. ... The Sharks were 0-for-3 on the power play and are 0-for-16 in their past six games. ... Jones, who had an assist on Gregor's goal, was one of 11 Sharks with at least one point.

What's next

Kings: Host the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; SN1, CITY, SNW, FS-W, NHL.TV)
Sharks: At the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; FS-A, FS-A PLUS, NBCSCA, NHL.TV)