Game Thread: San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings 10/30/13 | 10:30pm

[Cobiemonster]

vs.

at

10:30pm EST/7:30pm PST - FS-West​

SHARKS (10-1-1) at KINGS (8-5-0)

TV: CSN-CA, FS-W

Last 10: San Jose 8-1-1; Los Angeles 7-3-0

Season series: This is the first of five meetings this season between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings. The teams split four games in 2012-13, with each team winning twice at home.

Big story: The Sharks are back on the West Coast for the finale of a five-game road trip after going 3-1-0 against the Atlantic Division. They are less than a full second from being unbeaten in regulation; the only defeat on the trip was a 2-1 loss to the Boston Bruins in which the winning goal was scored with :00.8 remaining in regulation. The Sharks got to rest on Tuesday while the Kings were losing 3-1 to the Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz.

Team Scope:

Sharks: San Jose's offense struggled for most of the trip, but the defense and goaltending picked up the slack. The Sharks scored three non-shootout goals in the first three games before breaking out on Sunday in a 5-2 victory against the Ottawa Senators.

"We've always kind of been known as a good defensive team," captain Joe Thornton said after practice Tuesday. "This year is no different. We're playing real tight and when guys need to block shots, they block shots.

"We feed off good defense, and that's how we usually get good offense."

San Jose's plus-28 is by far the best goals margin in the NHL. The Colorado Avalanche are next at plus-19.

Kings: The Kings had no trouble scoring against the Coyotes in L.A. last week, but beating them in the desert was another matter. L.A. fired 42 shots at goaltender Mike Smith but managed only a third-period power-play goal by Jarret Stoll.

Kings captain Dustin Brown hopes Stoll's first goal of the season is a sign of better things to come for the team's secondary scorers.

"I think, from a personal standpoint, it's nice to see Stolly get a goal," he said. "Sometimes it's just getting that one, whether it turns out to be a power-play goal late in a 3-0 game, but that might be enough to spark him and get some secondary scoring going for this team."

Coach Darryl Sutter gave Ben Scrivens the start against the Coyotes; Jonathan Quick is expected to be in goal against the Sharks.

Who's hot: Niemi had shutouts in two of his three starts last week and is coming off a 2-0 victory against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Defenseman Marc-Andre Vlasic has two goals and nine points; he had seven points in 48 games last season. … Quick is 4-1-0 in his past five starts, including back-to-back victories against the Coyotes and Edmonton Oilers.

Injury report: Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle (upper body) may be ready to return after missing two weeks. Matt Nieto (hand) missed Sunday's game. Brent Burns (mouth) has been out since Oct. 21. Adam Burish (back surgery) and Raffi Torres (knee) are out. Martin Havlat (pelvis) is almost ready to play. … The Kings report no injuries.

San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings - 10/30/2013

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

This is going to be a great game Sharks will not lay down to us...Kings better wake the fuck up for this game

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Kings' season has been up and down so far, reminds me a lot of the season they won the Cup - struggled big time from Oct to about mid January, couldn't score, line combinations weren't gelling, etc. Pretty sure the Kings were .500 or barely above .500 when Terry W. Murray Hates Black People was fired.

Obviously we know how that season turned out but I was hoping for more consistency this season. This conference is extremely tough and the up and down play, lack of burying their chances when they get them, defensive miscues (especially the inability to clear the puck when at their own blue line) along with the SO wins and such, need to be corrected and fast.

SJ is on fire, which doesn't surprise me really because this is how they always seem to start out (isn't how you start, it's how you finish) but they are rolling and the Kings need to step up their games big time from the fourth line to the first.

No one is being a difference maker most nights and that's unacceptable with the talent on this roster.

 

[Cobiemonster]

We need the Kopitar's and Brown's and Doughty's of the world to be difference makers going forward, especially in a game like tonight

 

[davnlaguna]

I am expecting a 2~1 Kings win or 5-1 Kings loss

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

I expect us to show some pride tonight Kings 3-1

 

[Jonas_steven]

Go kings go!

 

[Kings4OT]

Voynov has been non-existent so far and I would like to see and hear his name much more tonight. Brown is either still very hurt or has abandoned his normal play and reverted back to flopping around as his contribution since he wont really hit anyone, which makes him more of a liability then anything.

 

[pete6835]

Voynov has been non-existent so far and I would like to see and hear his name much more tonight. Brown is either still very hurt or has abandoned his normal play and reverted back to flopping around as his contribution since he wont really hit anyone, which makes him more of a liability then anything.

Trade both of them!

I was about to post that Stoll sucks, and I was typing last night, he scored.

 

[Kings4OT]

 

[pete6835]

Great start!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kings4OT]

Well that was rad

 

[Kings4OT]

DD!

 

[pete6835]

Doughty!!

 

[pete6835]

Cliffy in, Nolan out.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Kings PP!

 

[Cobiemonster]

Joe Pavelski makes it 2-1 Sharks

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

FUUCKK!!

 

[Cobiemonster]

Kings getting another PP - let's tie this!

 

[Cobiemonster]

Crap Kings take an offensive zone penalty - come on guys