Will Kings respond vs. Sharks in must-win game?
Jonathan Quick doesn’t usually find himself on the losing side. The goalie’s continued struggles against San Jose, however, have perhaps put Los Angeles in an impossible situation.
With the prospect of elimination staring them in the face, the Kings enter tonight’s Game 5 in need of better showings from all personnel. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI believe that can happen, installing the two-time champs as 1.5-goal favorites. The over/under total sits at five tallies.
Still, make no mistake – coach Daryl Sutter needs Quick to revert to vintage form immediately. The 30-year-old netminder is 1-6-0 with a 3.31 GAA in the season series with the Sharks. Joe Pavelski alone has pushed four pucks past the former Conn Smythe Trophy winner since the opening round began.
On the other side, relative playoff neophyte Martin Jones continues to thrive. He’s 4-1-0 with a 1.58 GAA dating to April 9. Los Angeles stalwarts Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter remain powerless to solve the North Vancouver native, combing for a mere two goals in the matchup.
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There’s always something to be said for experience, though, and the Kings still boast such an attribute in spades. Can the comparatively untested Sharks close the deal, on the road, against a longstanding nemesis? We wouldn’t give up on Quick, or his team, quite yet.
FRIDAY NHL FREE PICK: KINGS -1.5
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