SAN JOSE – Tanner Pearson scored in overtime to give the Kings a 2-1 win over the Sharks at SAP Center on Tuesday.
On a two-on-one, Pearson flicked in a pass from Jeff Carter less than one minute into the extra session.
Los Angeles swept the home-and-home, and is now just six points behind San Jose in the Pacific Division. The Sharks' four-game home winning streak was snapped.
The Kings tied it at 1-1 early in the third thanks to Carter. The center drew a hooking minor on Justin Braun, and on the ensuing power play, he redirected a Jake Muzzin pass from between the circle for his 21st of the season.
San Jose picked up its game after that, spurred by some line changes, including Timo Meier getting bumped up to the top line with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. The rookie was stopped in front of the net with 12:45 to go, and couldn't quite find a loose puck in front of the net about 30 seconds later after Ward drove it the net.
Melker Karlsson had a wide open net with 11:12 to go, but couldn't get a handle on a swift pass by Joonas Donskoi.
Los Angeles' best chance to un-tie it was thwarted by Martin Jones, who knocked away Jordan Nolan's point blank chance with about six minutes left in regulation.
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The Sharks outshot Los Angeles 13-10 in the third, after the Kings had a 24-13 edge after two.
The Kings had the puck more than the Sharks through two periods, but Logan Couture's first goal in 10 games was the only score through 40 minutes.
Kevin Labanc pushed the puck to his linemate in the neutral zone, and Couture raced ahead. He found space below Peter Budaj's arm and deposited his 12th goal of the season at 11:56. It was his fourth this season against Los Angeles.
Los Angeles appeared to tie it up with 5:07 to go on the power play, when Alec Martinez's wrist shot from the circle rattled around in front and went in off of Marian Gaborik. After a video review, though, it was ruled that Gaborik batted the puck into the net with his hand.
The Kings' best chance to tie it before the second intermission came on a shorthanded breakaway by Anze Kopitar with 20 seconds left, but Jones waited out the Los Angeles captain and got his glove on the backhanded attempt.
The Sharks and Kings conclude their season series on Jan. 18 at Staples Center, their third meeting in a 19-day span.
The Kings are 7-1 in overtime, leading the league in wins. San Jose is 4-2.
Special teams:
The Sharks went 0-for-3 on the power play, and are just 14-for-96 since Nov. 1 (14.5 percent).
Los Angeles was 1-for-3, scoring one power play goal in each of the four games against San Jose.
Burns took four minor penalties in the two games against Los Angeles, and has five of his nine on the season have come in the last three games.
In goal:
Budaj, who beat the Sharks on Saturday with 18 saves, notched another victory with 26 saves.
Jones fell to 5-3-1 in his career against Los Angeles, allowing two goals on 35 shots.
Lineup:
The Sharks remained without defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who was placed on injured reserve on Monday. David Schlemko also came out with an upper body injury. Mirco Mueller made his season debut, playing his first NHL game since April 9.
Coach Pete DeBoer made one notable line change ahead of the game putting Donskoi with Couture and Labanc and bumping Mikkel Boedker to the third line.
Talented Kings winger Tyler Toffoli missed his sixth in the row.
Up next:
The Sharks host the red-hot Wild on Thursday for the first of three meetings. Minnesota had a 12-game winning streak snapped on Dec. 31 to Columbus, and doesn't play again until its visit to SAP Center.
