CORVO, KINGS PAY FOR LAPSE MISTAKE HELPS SHARKS GRAB WIN SAN JOSE 4, KINGS 3 (OT).

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

Kings defenseman Joe Corvo stood in front of a circle of reporters Saturday at Staples Center with a clenched jaw.

Corvo should have been enjoying the spotlight of the third period power-play goal he scored against the San Jose Sharks, or the satisfaction he felt in halting his string of lackluster performances with one of his best efforts of the season.

Instead he braced for the inevitable questions about a momentary lapse in judgment that led to San Jose's game-tying goal with 28.2 seconds left in regulation.

The Sharks eventually parlayed that momentum into a 4-3 overtime victory on Patrick Marleau's game-winning goal with 8.9 seconds left in the extra period.

For the Kings (29-18-3) it was a double-dose of shock - Joe Thornton's game-tying goal with under 30 seconds left followed by Marleau's game-winner with under nine seconds left.

And Corvo was left to defend himself after mistakenly assuming the Kings were about to clear the puck late in regulation and breaking for the other end of the ice. By the time he realized the Sharks had possession, it was too late. Thornton was alone in front of the net and easily tapped in a pass from Grant Stevenson to tie the score 3-3.

``Don't try to blame this on me,'' Corvo said, starring straight ahead. ``There was a whole line out there besides myself. We were battling and they just got a fortunate bounce.''

It was that kind of day for Corvo and the Kings. Both were flawless for 99 percent of the game. But like the final score, that last one percent is the only thing that matters.

The Kings, who now have 61 points, missed out on a chance to catch Dallas atop the Pacific Division standings.

``It rips your heart out,'' Kings coach Andy Murray said.

Thornton's tying goal came off a face-off after the Kings were called for icing when Corvo cleared the puck toward the Sharks' open net. Murray talked about defensive assignments during a timeout, but the Kings didn't exactly execute the plan. They mistakenly flooded one side of the ice, leaving them vulnerable on the other side.

To compound that mistake, Corvo got caught leaning, leaving two Sharks wide open in front of the net.

``We discussed what we wanted to do on the face-off,'' Murray said. ``So it was strange the way it happened because it was opposite of what we talked about.''

Marleau's game winner came on a power play off assists from Thornton and Stevenson.

The Sharks had eight power-play opportunities to the Kings' four. Three of San Jose's goals came on man advantages.

The disparity in penalties puzzled the Kings.

``I guess they weren't doing anything wrong out there; they weren't clutching or grabbing or picking. They were just playing a really clean game,'' said Corvo, tongue planted firmly in cheek. ``And I guess we were just playing the opposite.''

It was that kind of game for the Kings.

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com