LOS ANGELES – After jumping out 2-0 in Game 2, it looked as though the Los Angeles Kings had picked up right where they left off. But just when it seemed that way, the San Jose Sharks began showing signs of life scoring three unanswered goals ultimately entering the final minutes of regulations in prime position to tie the series. And then…

The Staples Faithful didn’t have to wait long for their team to get started as Jeff Carter wristed his fourth of the postseason 3:06 into the game to give Los Angeles the 1-0 lead.

If Kings fans were worried about anything entering Game 2, it was how their team would fare without Jarret Stoll, who was injured in Game 1 after a hit from San Jose’s Raffi Torres – who has since been suspended for the remainder of the series. So, with Stoll out, the Kings reinserted Brad Richardson who hasn’t played since Game 1 of the St. Louisseries. If fans were worried about Richardson having any rust, they soon realized they had no reason to.

May 14, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings players Dustin Brown (23), Mike Richards (10), Drew Doughty (8), Jeff Carter (77) and Anze Kopitar (11) celebrate after a goal in the third period during game two of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the San Jose Sharks at the Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Sharks 4-3 to take a 2-0 series lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

With Los Angeles on the power play early in the second, it was Richardson who set up Drew Doughty who slapped it past Antti Niemi to put the home team up by a pair.

Just before the halfway mark of the middle frame approach, the Sharks were finally able to solve Jonathan Quick as Patrick Marleau tipped in a Joe Thornton shot to cut the lead in half. But San Jose wasn’t done there as just under five minutes later, it was a former King (Brad Stuart) who slapped his first of the playoffs past Quick to tie the game.

In the third, the Sharks continued pressing and at the 8:56, defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic notched his first of the postseason to put the road team out in front for the first time this series.

It seemed as though the Sharks had found their groove and were on their way to winning. Unfortunately for them, a lack of discipline cost them late.

On a 5-on-3 power play late, the Kings had a golden opportunity to tie – and they took advantage as Dustin Brown backhanded his second of the playoffs behind Niemi to tie the game. This game appeared to be heading into overtime.

But as exciting as playoff hockey is, the Kings weren’t content on waiting until then. While they scored on the man-advantage, the Kings still had a 5-on-4 with Vlasic in the box for shooting the puck over the glass.

Just 22 seconds after Brown tied it up, Trevor Lewis added to the fun as he notched his first of the playoffs to put the Kings out in front for good sending Staples Center into a frenzy. It’s also worth noting that on the goal, Lewis was set up by rookie Tyler Toffoli who notched his first-career playoff point on the goal.

With the win, Jonathan Quick earned his 26th career postseason win which ties him with Kelly Hrudey for the all-time franchise lead. While he did allow a playoff-high three goals, Quick was again reliable making 28 saves en route to the victory.

After being outshot in the first two periods, the Kings came alive in the third outshooting the Sharks 18-7 and while they had to be patient, their heroics paid off as the silver-and-black emphasized the “advantage” in home-ice (and on this night, man-) advantage and now head to San Jose looking to take complete control of this series.

So, after falling in their first two games of the postseason, the Los Angeles Kings have now reeled off six-straight wins heading into the HP Pavilion for Game 3 on Saturday night.

Thanks to the outstanding play of Jonathan Quick in Game 1, the Los Angeles Kings were able to draw first blood in their series with the San Jose Sharks. But if they’re planning on continuing their success and making it six wins in a row in these playoffs, the Kings will need to give Quick a little more support.

While the shots differential in the first two periods wasn’t anything to look down upon, the third period saw the Kings got outshot by a margin of 16-4 which should not happening on a regular basis. Yes, Quick was outstanding but a little more help from his defense might go a long way.

After all, with a San Jose attack that includes Marleau, Thornton, Pavelski and Couture up front in addition to the likes of Dan Boyle and Brent Burns on the back end, shutting this team out is quite the accomplishment and therefore should not be expected in consecutive games. Then again, if the Kings feel they can do such a thing (and there’s no reason to believe they can’t), the silver-and-black will come out even stronger in Game 2with a determination to head north to San Jose up 2-0 in a series that most thought would be a very close battle.

May 14, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Dwight King (74) skates into San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31) as he clears the puck in the third period of game one of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center. King won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

After making 36 saves for his second shutout of this postseason, Jonathan Quick enters Game 2 just one win behind Kelly Hrudey for the most playoff wins by a Kings goaltender in franchise history. So, while the aforementioned may not be a top priority, it does still serve as good incentive to keep on winning.

But if the Sharks were hoping to get back into this series on Thursday night, it may be costly that Raffi Torres decided to make a borderline hit on Jarret Stoll that knocked him out of the game.

Stoll’s status for Game 2 is doubtful while Torres, who met with the NHL disciplinary department on Wednesday, has an uncertain status for Game 2. Of course, while it may seem a bit malevolent, I’m sure a few Kings want Torres in the San Jose lineup for Game 2 as it’s just fueled poured onto the fire. A notoriously dirty player cheapshots once of Los Angeles’s most important players in the playoffs and there is no reason why bad blood shouldn’t be expected for the remainder of the series.

Outside of the crease, the Kings had a few of their assets clicking on all cylinders as Slava Voynov had a goal and an assist while Jeff Carter and Mike Richards were each in on both goals en route to the win.

As clichéd as it sounds, there really is no love lost between these two rivals and on Thursday night, the heated rivalry continues at Staples Center with each team determined to win just as badly as the other.

Enjoy the game!