Sharks win again against Kings

LOS ANGELES - Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski and Tommy Wingels scored in the San Jose Sharks’ seventh win at Staples Center in their past eight trips, 3-2 over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night.

Joe Thornton had two assists and Martin Jones made 22 saves for the defending Western Conference champion Sharks, who wrapped up their regular-season series against their biggest rivals with three victories in five games.

After Burns scored his 19th goal in the opening minutes, San Jose hung on through a scoreless third period to continue its recent domination in downtown Los Angeles, including three victories in last season’s first-round playoff series.

Tanner Pearson and Marian Gaborik scored for the Kings, who ended a ?seven-game homestand with four defeats.

Peter Budaj stopped 24 shots, but Los Angeles’ power play struggled mightily in the Kings’ final home game before they host the NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 29.

The Sharks played without forward Logan Couture, who stayed home in San Jose with an illness. They still had enough scoring skill and speed to overcome the deliberate Kings.

Burns put the Sharks ahead with a goal that deflected off Kings captain Anze Kopitar. Pearson evened it with an artful midair deflection of Derek Forbort’s shot for his 14th goal, one shy of his career high.

Wingels put the Sharks back ahead by finishing a 2-on-1 with Micheal Haley for his first goal in 17 games since Nov. 19. After Pavelski scored midway through the second period, Gaborik kept it close with a rebound goal.