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Preview: Kings dive into the Shark Tank

Posted on by Sarah Avampato

How to Watch

Game Time: 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time

TV: Fox Sports West

Radio: iHeart Radio

The Opposition: Fear the Fin

What to Watch

  • The Sharks fired their coach recently and they’re still bad. Fancy that. Our northern California bretheren are 1-8-1 in their last 10 games, and entered the holiday break on a three-game losing streak, during which they were outscored 11-5 and lost to the Coyotes, Blues, and Golden Knights. On one hand, those are three legitimate teams they lost to. On the other hand: one win in 10 games.
  • The problem for the Sharks? Offense. Sound familiar? They’re down in the bottom of the barrel with the Kings in many categories, including points (34 each) and total goals scored (99 each). Players not named Logan Couture or Tomas Hertl are failing to provide the depth scoring that has usually been so consistent for the Sharks. /

  • One area where the Sharks are seeing success? The penalty kill. Despite the fact that they can’t get a save or quality defense at even strength, they’re lights out when down a man. The Sharks lead the league on the PK, with an 88% success rate.
  • The Kings will see some lineup changes tonight, with Dustin Brown confirmed out with an illness. Kale Clague and Martin Frk have both been recalled from the Reign and Frk is expected to make his Kings debut. Frk, 26, has played 100 career NHL games, registering 31 points, over stints with the Carolina Hurricanes and Detroit Red Wings. In play with the Ontario Reign, he has 23 points (14 goals, 9 assists) in 26 games. /

  • The Kings started slow in their final game before the break against the Blues. And while they tried to fight back, putting together a much more consistent performance as the game went on, they also spotted the Blues a 4-0 lead, and there’s not much you can do usually to come back from that, not against a team that good. While the Sharks are struggling this season, that’s not a reason to expect to be able to ease into this game. /

Lineups

No one appears to have had any substantial reports from morning skates, so your guess is as good as ours.

Los Angeles Kings

San Jose Sharks

Talking Points