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Martin Jones continues strong stretch against LA Kings in 4-1 win

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Martin Jones #31 of the San Jose Sharks defends the goal during a game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on November 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Martin Jones of the San Jose Sharks defends the goal during a game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on November 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES – San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones isn’t the type of player to often publicly display raw emotions.

Ask him why he has had a high level of success against the Los Angeles Kings and Jones keeps his words simple.

“These are important division games. Everyone knows the importance of these games,” Jones said after a 4-1 win against the Kings at Staples Center. “We always seem to have big efforts against these guys. Any time you play the Kings those are big matches.”

But Jones’ teammates know that there’s something that drives the starting netminder to play at a consistently high level against the Kings, his former team. This has ultimately helped the Sharks outplay Los Angeles since Jones switched sides before last season.

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“I mean, he’s not going to tell you but I’m sure there’s something inside him that wants to prove something to that organization,” Sharks forward Logan Couture said. “Obviously he’s thankful for the opportunities they gave him but he wanted to be a No. 1 goalie and I’m sure he’s glad we gave him the chance and he has run with it.”

Jones has turned into one of the best recent acquisitions for the Sharks – one that has stabilized their net and given them a strong puck-stopping presence. In the summer of 2015, Los Angeles traded Jones, then a restricted free agent backup goaltender, to the Boston Bruins as part of a deal for Milan Lucic. The team was afraid the Sharks would give Jones an offer sheet and wanted to be proactive.

The Sharks still acquired Jones from the Bruins, and signed him to a three-year, $9 million contract.

Los Angeles ended up empty handed eventually with Lucic leaving to go to the Edmonton Oilers last summer as an unrestricted free agent.

Meanwhile, Jones has turned into one of the best starters in the Western Conference and helped backstop the Sharks to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.

With a 26-save performance Wednesday, Jones moved to 5-1-1 against Los Angeles in the regular season. In the playoffs last year, Jones went 4-1 against the Kings in ousting them in the first-round. In 21 games this season, Jones has held a 2.04 goal-against average and .921 save percentage, an improvement from his 2.27 goal-against average and .918 save percentage in 65 games last season. Jones had been part of Los Angeles’ system his entire pro career until the 2015 offseason.

“I think he’s just never had that chance,” Sharks forward Joel Ward said. “He was backing up to (Jonathan) Quick (in Los Angeles) I’m sure if he had that opportunity to play I’m sure he could have done the job too so it was just the matter he was behind another good goalie so he needed his coming out party.”

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After San Jose went up 3-0 in the first period on goals by Kevin Labanc, Couture and Ryan Carpenter, Jones and his teammates withstood a strong charge by Los Angeles in the second period. Defenseman Brent Burns prevented a Trevor Lewis scoring attempt from around the net with a diving stick stop. Kings forward Tanner Pearson also hit the post on a shot in that same frame.

But Jones mostly stood tall, only allowing one goal of 11 shots on goal in the second to keep the Kings at bay. In the third period, Jones stopped all nine Kings shots on goal to preserve the win.

It was the type of performance the Sharks have become accustomed to with their goaltender, especially against his former team.

“I mean, he’s a legitimate starter and for me he’s one of the top goalies in the league so he’s just getting better,” Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. “I think you’re just seeing the tip of what he’s capable of so our guys love him back there, they love his composure they love his demeanor. They trust him and that’s a huge part of being a starting goalie on a good team.”

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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