Kings flex home-ice muscle in shutout of San Jose, 2-0

Kings 2, San Jose 0 (end of regulation)

Home-ice advantage is something a little unfamiliar to the Kings.

But they might get to like it.

Starting their first postseason series at home since 1992, the Kings defeated the San Jose Sharks, 2-0, in the first game of the Western Conference semifinals.

BOX SCORE: Kings 2, San Jose 0

The win marked their first shutout of this postseason and the first time they had lead by more than a goal. But it did not come easily.

Time and again, the Sharks created scoring chances in the third period. Time and again, goalie Jonathan Quick came up with key saves to preserve the shutout.

Kings 2, San Jose 0 (end of second period)

The Kings opened their first two-goal cushion of the playoffs, racing to a 2-0 lead over the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center on Tuesday night.

Playing before an announced crowd of 18,118, the Kings got two goals, one from defenseman Slava Voynov and a second from center Mike Richards, on a deflection of a Voynov shot. They also showed the kind of defense that will be needed to slow down an opponent that has been on an offensive tear.

Twice, the Sharks had a chance to show why they are one of the best power-play teams in these playoffs.

Twice, the Kings penalty-killing unit prevailed, with some key saves by goalie Jonathan Quick.

Kings 2, San Jose 0 (7:30 left in the second period)

So much for the Kings being a tired and battered team.

After a brutally physical first-round series against the St. Louis Blues, the Kings jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the San Jose Sharks midway through the second period at Staples Center on Tuesday night.

The second goal was initially credited to defenseman Slava Voynov, who also scored at the end of the first period, but the puck appeared to glance off center Mike Richards.

[UPDATED: May 14, 8:59 p.m.: Richards was later credited for the goal. ]

Voynov shot from the right point as Richards was skating across the face of the goal. The shot skipped past San Jose goalie Antti Niemi.

Kings 1, San Jose 0 (end of first period)

Starting a playoff series with home-ice advantage for the first time since 1992 -- back when Dan Quayle was still vice president and the world wide web was still a novelty -- the Kings wanted to start quick.

“You’ve got to take advantage of it,� center Colin Fraser said.

That meant getting the crowd going and jumping ahead of the San Jose Sharks early in their second-round game at Staples Center on Tuesday night.

That’s not quite what happened, but as a tight first period drew to a close, Kings defenseman Slava Voynov scored in the final seconds to give the Kings a 1-0 lead.

Voynov collected a loose puck at the blue line, skated in and fired through a crowd in front of the net. The shot beat San Jose goalie Antti Niemi to the far corner with 13 seconds remaining in the first period.