Nabokov and Sharks are too much for Kings

SAN JOSE – Evgeni Nabokov made 16 saves in his NHL-best 46th victory, and the San Jose Sharks closed out their home schedule with their 18th win in 20 games, 5-2 over the Kings on Tuesday night.

Milan Michalek scored the go-ahead goal in the second period for the Pacific Division champions, who have earned a point in every game since March 20. Mike Grier, captain Patrick Marleau, Curtis Brown and Brian Campbell also scored as the Sharks earned their 108th point, surpassing last season’s franchise record of 107 with two games to play.

Nabokov guaranteed he’ll lead the league in victories this season, moving four wins ahead of New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur. He’s still in the running to match Brodeur’s NHL record of 48 victories last season.

Patrick O’Sullivan and Raitis Ivanans scored for the Kings as the clubs began a home-and-home series between the NHL’s worst team and its second-best. Erik Ersberg stopped 29 shots for the Kings.

Nabokov, who has played in 75 of the Sharks’ 80 games, is fourth in NHL history behind Brodeur’s 48 victories and the 47 wins compiled by Philadelphia’s Bernie Parent (1973-74) – who did it before shootouts – and Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo (2006-07).

Even in a one-sided win, the Sharks rested for the playoffs by playing without forward Jonathan Cheechoo, defenseman Craig Rivet and rookie forward Devin Setoguchi, who all sat out to rest minor injuries. Coach Ron Wilson kept his players’ minutes fairly even.

San Jose dominated puck possession in the first period, but didn’t score until Grier put a difficult rebound shot past two defenders and Ersberg with 10.6 seconds to play.

Grier, a superb defensive forward who runs the NHL’s third-best penalty-killing unit, hadn’t scored a goal since March 1.

O’Sullivan tied it with a short-handed breakaway goal early in the second, but Marleau put the Sharks ahead 66 seconds later with his 18th goal. Ivanans, the Los Angeles enforcer who fought Jody Shelley in the first period, tied it again when Alexander Frolov’s pass caught the San Jose defense napping.

Michalek then ended an eight-game goal-scoring drought on a pass from Joe Thornton, who picked up his NHL-leading 66th assist.

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The Kings have signed defenseman Davis Drewiske to a multi-year entry-level contract.

Drewiske, 23, had 21 points, 46 penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating with the Wisconsin Badgers this season in all 40 games.