Sharks 4, Kings 2: Logan Couture collected two goals and an assist as host San Jose entered the All-Star break with a 3-1-1 mark in its last five contests.

Patrick Marleau scored and set up a goal while Joe Pavelski netted his team-leading 24th tally for the Sharks, who have won two of three versus their Pacific Division rival and improved to 2-1-1 on their season-high seven-game homestand. Antti Niemi finished with 26 saves and Joe Thornton notched his 879th career assist to move past former Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom for sole possession of 21st place on the all-time list.

Jeff Carter deflected Anze Kopitar's point shot for a power-play goal with 23 seconds remaining in the third period to bring Los Angeles within one at 3-2. Captain Dustin Brown also tallied, Kopitar notched two assists and Jonathan Quick turned aside 21 shots on his 29th birthday for the Kings, who have dropped four in a row and seven of their last eight (1-3-4).

Stationed in front during a man advantage, Marleau scored his ninth goal of the season and second in 20 games by deflecting Couture's slap pass past Quick with 3:21 remaining in the second period to give San Jose a 2-1 edge. Pavelski cleaned up a loose puck on the doorstep at 8:27 of the third for another power-play tally, and Couture answered Carter's late score by being awarded a goal after he was hooked on a breakaway toward an empty net.

Couture skated up the left wing and breezed around Los Angeles defenseman Alec Martinez before lifting the puck over Quick's right shoulder 10:44 into the first period to open the scoring. Quick closed his pads to thwart Couture's bid to double the advantage in the second and Kings defenseman Brayden McNabb's persistent backchecking denied a 2-on-1 rush moments later before Brown forged a tie by scoring on a wraparound at 11:39 of the session.

GAME NOTEBOOK: San Jose rookie LW Barclay Goodrow and D Matt Tennyson were inserted into the lineup in place of C Tommy Wingels and D Justin Braun, who suffered left hand injuries during Monday's 5-2 loss to New Jersey. ... The California rivals will have their next meeting outdoors at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on Feb. 21 before wrapping up the season series in Los Angeles on April 11. ... Metallica members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and Robert Trujillo participated in the ceremonial puck drop while fans received a commemorative Sharks T-shirt with the No. 81 on the back, signifying the year the legendary band was founded. ... In addition to teammate Quick, McNabb celebrated a birthday on Wednesday as he turned 24 years old. ... Kings C Nick Shore registered his first NHL point with an assist on Carter's goal.