Kempe's late score can't save Kings in shootout loss to Sharks

Despite a late equalizer from Adrian Kempe, the Los Angeles Kings went on to fall 4-3 in a shootout to the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center on Thursday evening. Falling to 10-6-5, Los Angeles finished a six-game stint on the road at 4-1-1.

Kempe managed to even the score at three with less than a minute to play in the third period, sneaking one past Sharks netminder Yaroslav Askarov from short distance. It was the seventh score of the year for the right-winger, who leads the team in points.

The 29-year-old entered Thursday's contest as one of only three players in the NHL to have four or more shots on goal in at least five consecutive games. He extended his streak to six such games after putting five more shots on goal in a losing effort.

Askarov redeemed himself in the shootout for San Jose, saving all three shots that Los Angeles fired his way. Trevor Moore, Kempe and Corey Perry were all unsuccessful as Philipp Kurashev provided the lone score of the shootout for the Sharks.

Kurashev also had a regulation score late in the second period that got his squad out in front 3-2. Other scorers for San Jose included Adam Gaudette and Ty Dellandrea, who both found the net in the first period to put Los Angeles in a hole early.

Joel Armia had his fourth score of the year in the opening period for the Kings to ensure that they would head to the second down just one score. He became the sixth skater leaguewide to have multiple shorthanded goals this season (2).

The score came despite a Sharks' power play, giving the Kings their fourth shorthanded goal of the year.

Finding a goal for the second consecutive game, Anze Kopitar got Los Angeles even at two in the opening minutes of the second. It was the 38-year-old's 50th and final career regular-season game in San Jose. Only Shane Doan (56 games) has played more games at the SAP Center in NHL history.

Additionally, the captain picked up an assist on Kempe's score, using his two-point performance to break a tie with Joe Sakic for sole possession of the second-most career points against the Sharks in NHL history (77 points). Kopitar's 39 road points against San Jose are tied for the third-most behind Mike Modano (42) and Teemu Selanne (50).

David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Kings' goalie Anton Forsberg fell to 3-2-2 with the loss, his first in the month of November. Forsberg had tied Eddie Lack (9) for the ninth-most shutouts by a Swedish-born player in NHL history after turning away all 17 shots by the Senators last Saturday.

Los Angeles will be back in action tomorrow evening as they return home to host the Boston Bruins. Boston is currently second in the Atlantic Division (12-10-0), and has lost three of their last four games.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT.