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15: Preview, Sharks @ Kings, Western Conference Round 1, Game 5

2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, First Round

Game 5: San Jose Sharks @ Los Angeles Kings

Time: 7:30 PM Pacific
Location: Staples Center
TV: CNBC, Prime Ticket, CSN-CA
Radio: KABC 790 AM
Live Stream: NBC Sports

Projected Lines

San Jose Sharks

Hertl – Thornton – Pavelski
Donskoi – Couture – Ward
Nieto – Marleau – Karlsson
Spaling – Tierney – Wingels

Vlasic – Braun
Martin – Burns
Dillon – Polak

Jones
(Reimer)

Los Angeles Kings

King – Kopitar – Gaborik
Lucic – Carter – Toffoli
Pearson – Lecavalier – Brown
Clifford – Lewis – Versteeg

Scuderi – Doughty
Muzzin – Schenn
McNabb – McBain

Quick
(Enroth)

Scratched: Andreoff, Shore Injured: Martinez, Nolan, Greene

Game Notes:

  • Same lineups. Hopefully, a different result. You can read some thoughts on the lineup here.
  • In the last preview, we discussed (OK, I wrote about) the fact that it wasn’t a must-win game. That particular section ended with the cautionary point that “asking LA to win three straight is still a tall order.” Sure is!
  • Trevor Lewis is the leading goal-scorer for the Kings in this series. No one has more than three points. Luke Schenn was the offensive star in Game Four. This is where we are.
  • Fear the Fin pregame reading: Brent Burns showcased the defensive improvements that have made him even more difficult to play against. He and Paul Martin might still be easier to crack than Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Braun, but both pairs are tough.
  • Which offers a contrast from LA’s three pairs, all of which are vulnerable. Jake Muzzin and Drew Doughty have to play their best games of the series tonight.
  • Thanks, as always, for reading. Here’s to the Kings making sure there are more previews this season.
  • PREDICTION: Kings win.

Talking Points