Game Thread: San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings 12/19/13 | 10:30pm

[Cobiemonster]

vs.

at

Game Time: 10:30pm EST/7:30pm PST - FS-West​

SHARKS (21-7-6) vs. KINGS (23-8-4)

TV: CSN-CA, FS-W

Last 10: San Jose 5-4-1; Los Angeles 7-2-1

Season series: The San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings have split two games. The Sharks won the most recent game, a 3-2 shootout victory at SAP Center on Nov. 27.

Big story: Can anyone score on Kings goalie Martin Jones? The rookie is off to arguably the best start to a career in NHL history for a netminder by winning each of his first six starts, three by shutout. Albeit in a very small sample size, Jones' career numbers are a mind-boggling .972 save percentage and a 0.82 goals-against average.

"The last three or four years, being in the minors, you learn how to be a pro, and how to approach on and off the ice stuff, and the details that make you a good pro," said Jones, who was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week on Monday. "I've put in the work in a last little bit, and it's nice to see some results here."

Thursday night, Jones might be in for his biggest challenge yet when the offensively-potent Sharks visit Staples Center. San Jose, a winner of two of its past seven games, is in need of two valuable points against its division rival.

Team Scope:

Sharks: San Jose's 4-2 win against the St. Louis Blues Tuesday may have been as much about turning the tide as it was about two points. The Sharks have struggled for most of December and considering they've played six of their eight games away from home that might not be a coincidence. Of the five games San Jose has lost this month only one, a shootout loss Dec. 10 against the New York Islanders, came at home.

The Sharks are two points behind the Kings, with a game in hand, and five points behind the Anaheim Ducks for the Pacific Division lead.

Kings: Los Angeles defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 in a return to Staples Center off a successful four-game road trip. The win helped the Kings keep pace with the first-place Ducks, who they trail by three points with a game in hand.

Though Jones' performance is remarkable, his numbers might not be quite as good without the Kings' impressive defense in front of him. L.A. has allowed a League-low 68 goals, but in recent weeks the defense has been borderline dominant. The Kings' 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in their road trip finale this past Sunday was the first time they gave up more than two goals since Nov. 2, a span of 18 games.

Who's hot: Sharks forward Patrick Marleau has three goals and five assists in his past six games. ... Kings forward Jeff Carter has two goals and four assists in his past four games.

Injury report: Sharks defenseman Scott Hannan (lower body) is questionable for Thursday. Forwards Raffi Torres (ACL surgery) and Adam Burish (lower body) are on injured reserve … Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell (illness) is questionable. Goalie Jonathan Quick (groin strain), forward Colin Fraser (concussion) and defenseman Matt Greene (upper body) are on injured reserve.

San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings - 12/19/2013

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

Hopefully we get a little payback after losing to the Sharks in our last meeting in SJ.

GO KINGS GO

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

 

[blk4x499]

A regulation win would be real nice tonight.

 

[Cobiemonster]

San Jose Projected Lines

Tomas Hertl – Joe Thornton – Brent Burns
Patrick Marleau – Logan Couture – Marty Havlat
James Sheppard – Joe Pavelski – Tommy Wingels
Tyler Kennedy – Andrew Desjardins – Mike Brown

Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Justin Braun
Matt Irwin – Dan Boyle
Scott Hannan – Brad Stuart

Antti Niemi
Alex Stalock

Los Angeles Projected Lines

Dwight King – Anze Kopitar – Jeff Carter
Dustin Brown – Jarret Stoll – Justin Williams
Trevor Lewis – Mike Richards – Tyler Toffoli
Kyle Clifford – Colin Fraser – Jordan Nolan

Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Robyn Regehr – Slava Voynov
Alec Martinez – Matt Greene

Martin Jones
Ben Scrivens

 

[Cobiemonster]

Go Kings Go!!!

 

[blk4x499]

Last time I complained about the lines, Sutter looked like a genius, that being said, I do not like the 2nd and 3rd lines at all.

 

[ChiefsDdgersLakersKings24]

[MEDIA=twitter]413707081489731584[/MEDIA]

Hey 24.7, you need to make your picks for bowl mania.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Brownie getting a five minute major for kneeing

 

[Bluesince62]

Seriously with that BS call?

 

[davnlaguna]

I am listening on the radio. Darryl thinks it was incidental

 

[Cobiemonster]

I'm surprised they called that a major

Scoreless after one period - let's kill this major off Kings - Go Kings Go!!!

 

[Cobiemonster]

 

[Cobiemonster]

A-Mart!!! 1-0 Kings!!! Go Kings Go!!!

 

[Bluesince62]

AMart !!

 

[Bluesince62]

HAHA! Doughty rocks Pavelski

 

[davnlaguna]

Kings motivated by "it is us against the world(refs)"

 

[Bluesince62]

Toffoli with a laser!

 

[pete6835]

Toffoli!!!

 

[Cobiemonster]

Top Titty!!! 2-0 Kings!!! Go Kings Go!!!