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Sharks-Kings Preview

Jan 19, 2010 - 7:01 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

San Jose (32-10-8) at Los Angeles (27-18-3), 10:30 p.m. EDT

For a team vying for one of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Kings need every point they can get. So far, they've done a good job acquiring points against one of the league's best teams.

Following an impressive comeback win, the Kings look to beat Pacific Division-leading San Jose for the fourth time in six games Tuesday night at Staples Center, but they'll have to contend with a Sharks team coming off its highest-scoring game in nearly three years.

Sitting in eighth place in the West with 57 points - just one ahead of ninth-place Detroit - Los Angeles (27-18-3) is hoping to make the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

The Kings picked up two important points Saturday with a 4-3 shootout win over Boston after entering the third period trailing 3-1. Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar scored in the third and had both goals in the shootout for Los Angeles, which has won consecutive games following a three-game skid.

"We just found away to win," said Brown, who has three goals in his last four games. "The points are so important right now with Detroit right behind us. Once we're in the playoffs, we will say this was huge."

The Kings, who haven't been to the playoffs since 2002, are embarking on a critical portion of the schedule. After hosting San Jose (32-10-8), which is tied with Chicago for the most points in the league, Los Angeles wraps up a seven-game homestand Thursday against East-leading Buffalo before opening a five-game road trip Saturday at Detroit.

"You've just got to try to give yourself a chance," right wing Brad Richardson told the Kings' official Web site. "Every point is going to help. You never want to look back at the end of the year and miss by one or two points."

Although Los Angeles was on the short end of a 2-1 loss to the Sharks last Monday, it is still 3-1-1 against them this season, earning seven of a possible 10 points. The Kings defeated San Jose 6-2 on Jan. 4, one of the few teams to beat the Sharks over the past month.

San Jose is 13-2-1 since Dec. 17, including Monday's 9-1 win over Calgary, its highest-scoring game since a 9-4 victory over Detroit on Jan. 4, 2007.

Nearly every member of the Sharks got on the score sheet Monday, as Dany Heatley was the only player to score twice. The eight goal-scorers broke the franchise record of seven last reached in that win over the Red Wings three years ago.

Sharks coach Todd McLellan juggled his second and third lines before Saturday's 4-2 victory over Edmonton in hopes of getting production from outside the top line of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Heatley. The move has paid immediate dividends as all six forwards on those lines scored against the Flames.

"No doubt it's helped," Joe Pavelski said of having Manny Malhotra on his line with Devin Setoguchi. "It's shown on the sheet. ... For whatever reason, it's helped through every line."

This Sharks, who are second in the league with 166 goals, now try to overpower the Kings, something they haven't had much luck with this season.

Jonathan Quick, who is likely to be in net for Los Angeles, is 5-2-0 with a 2.05 goals-against average and one shutout since Dec. 31 and is 2-0-1 with a 2.27 GAA in three starts against the Sharks.

San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov has been outstanding lately, going 4-1-1 with a 1.47 GAA since Jan. 6. He stopped 33 shots against the Kings last week.