*Photo from the Chico Enterprise-Record*
Recently selected to the 2022 NHL All Star Game in Las Vegas, San Jose Sharks RW Timo Meier is sure proving he was worth the selection. Meier had a 5 goal game, Tomas Hertl dished out 4 assists, and the Sharks defeated the Los Angeles Kings 6-2 at home on Monday afternoon.
The 5 goal game by Meier was the first 5 goal game from a player in Sharks history, with Hertl assisting on 3 of his 5 goals. He's the 5th player in the NHL to score 5 goals in a game since the turn of the century, and the first since Mika Zibanejad tallied 5 goals in an overtime win for the New York Rangers on March 5, 2020. It also helped the Sharks snap a two game losing streak.
Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson said of Meier's game that "It's always nice when you see guys have accomplishments like that. It raises the spirits for the whole team. He finds open areas out there and he has been doing that on a consistent level this year, which I think has come with the experience that he's had."
Meier's first goal of the game came 3:02 into the game, his 16th goal of the season. Rudolfs Balcers made the lead 2-0 for the Sharks, the only skater for San Jose not named Meier to score a goal. Meier scored again at the 18:48 mark, and already had a hat trick with 51 seconds left in the first period. Anze Kopitar scored with 16 seconds left for the Kings, making it a 4-1 game after one period.
Picking up right where he left off to begin the second period was Meier, picking up his 4th goal of the game just 1:24 into the second, making it a 5-1 lead for the Sharks, assisted by Karlsson and Hertl. He scored the historic 5th goal of the night with 28 seconds left in the period to make it 6-1. The lone goal of the 3rd period came from Mikey Anderson, bringing the Kings to a 6-2 deficit, not nearly enough.
Sharks head coach Bob Boughner said of Meier's hot streak that "I can't remember ever seeing a guy that hot. You put in the good, hard work and you get paid back, and Timo got paid back today. The way he scored, the patience, picking the shot. Those were pretty goals."
Making his first start since January 4 for the Sharks was James Reimer, who had a good night to sit back and watch Meier work his magic. Reimer turned aside 39 of the 41 shots on goal he faced from the Kings, good for a .951 save percentage in the win. Reimer's record increased to 12-7-1 in 20 starts this season.
Opposing Reimer was Jonathan Quick for the Kings, who faced a low shot volume but still didn't do enough to stop Meier and the Sharks. Quick saved 11 of the 17 shots that the Sharks sent his way, posting a ugly looking .647 save percentage in the loss. Quick now sits at 11-9-4 in 24 starts.
Kopitar said of the loss that "It happened very quickly. We didn't play terribly, but nowhere near good enough. Sometimes, when you don't play terrible and get away with it, maybe a 2-1 game, 3-1 game, it doesn't look as bad as it does at 6-2."
The Kings are back in action on Tuesday night as they complete a back to back, hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning, with Cal Petersen to get the start between the pipes. The Sharks face the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, with Reimer the likely starter.
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