Sharks beat Kings in battle for No. 7 seed in West

[April 09, 2012]  SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Dan Boyle scored his second goal of the game with 1:02 remaining in overtime to give the San Jose Sharks a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night in the regular-season finale.

Patrick Marleau also scored in the third period to tie the game for the Sharks. Joe Pavelski hit the inside of the post with a minute remaining.

The Sharks clinched the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and will meet the St. Louis Blues in the first round.

Justin Williams and Mike Richards each scored power-play goals for the Kings, who took a 2-0 lead into the final period. The Kings will face Presidents' Cup winner Vancouver in the opening round.

Neither team had a chance to win the Pacific Division after Phoenix beat Minnesota 4-1 to clinch the No. 3 spot in the playoffs.

A scoring frenzy down the stretch helped both teams secure playoff berths. The Kings recorded 21 points over their last 14 games and the Sharks had 23 points in their previous 18.

The NHL playoff schedule will be announced Sunday.

Williams opened the scoring with a power-play goal midway through the first period. Jarret Stoll took a long shot that bounced off Antti Niemi's pads and right to Williams' stick.

Los Angeles scored on another power play in the final minute of the second period after killing off two penalties, one a two-man advantage.

This time it was Williams, who took the shot Niemi could not hang onto, with Richards there for the easy rebound.

Boyle sliced the lead in half 35 seconds into the third period and Marleau scored his 30th goal 8 minutes later to tie it.

The Sharks played the third period without defenders Ryane Clowe and Colin White.

NOTES: C Logan Couture was voted Sharks Player of the Year by the Bay Area media. ... Richards has points in five straight games. ... Martinez has points in three of his last five games after scoring in two of his previous 12. ... Sharks F Martin Havlat has points in his last four games. ... Marleau reached 30 goals for a fourth straight year and sixth in seven seasons. ... Pavelski left the ice after getting hit in the face with a puck in the first period. He returned after being treated for a cut lip.

[Associated Press]

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