Kings Dismantle The San Jose Sharks

Kings Dismantle The San Jose Sharks

By Barbara Mason
Bay Area Sports Drive/Raiderdrive.com

San Jose Sharks lose to Kings 5-2 in San Jose Ca. at HP Pavilion. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP)

It’s not that the San Jose Sharks are in the basement in their division. Quite the contrary, in fact, they sat atop it prior to taking on the much-improved Los Angeles Kings. It’s just that San Jose is capable of so much more than they have shown this season. It doesn’t prove a whole lot to point out who is hot and who is not. This is a team and when players are hot, it affects the whole team just as disappointing performances affect the whole team.

Last night as the Sharks took on the Los Angeles Kings at HP Pavilion, the goal was to not only get some of the players or even most of the players on task, but all of the team. The way the schedule has been laid out this year, the month of November and December is all- important to San Jose as they take on division rivals in 18 of 24 games.

Last night’s game was also the first home game for #16 Devin Setoguchi. After his successful debut in the NHL last Monday scoring not one but two goals against Dallas in the final period, his appearance before the home crowd was highly anticipated. “I just want to get better,” said Setoguchi. “I’ve got a lot more to do,” he said, “if I want to stay around.” This is a very mature observation from one so young who is taking it one game at a time. His dream to skate with the veteran Joe

Thornton has been realized and Setoguchi has to continue to prove that he belongs there and what better place to prove it than in front of the home crowd.

The first thing that the Sharks got going early Friday night was on the power play as they successfully converted the first one of the evening into the first goal of the evening for the early 1-0 lead. It was the third goal of the season for #12 Patrick Marleau assisted by #26 Steve Bernier and #27 Jeremy Roenick. San Jose would have another one-man advantage but come away empty. As the period ended, San Jose had outshot the Kings 21-10 making this the most shots in a period this season.

The Kings twelfth shot on goal was the shot that got past Nabokov, as there seemed to be some confusion in San Jose’s defensive zone. The play turned sloppy in the early goings of the second period with the game all tied up 1-1. Soon after the Kings goal, the Sharks started to turn things around taking another 7 shots on goal and taking back control of the game, however this was short lived. At 10:18, San Jose went on their third power play when the Kings were called for roughing. With 32 shots on goal to the Kings 15, San Jose didn’t have much to show for their effort, as the score remained 1-1. In contrast, the Los Angeles Kings had taken 20 shots on goal getting a second score past Nabokov on a defensive turnover giving Los Angeles the first lead of the game 2-1. Things seemed to go from bad to worse for the Sharks as the Kings scored a third time with 1:20 left in the period giving the Kings a 3-1 lead.

The third period rally just didn’t come for the San Jose Sharks. The Kings Ladislav Nagy came up with goal number four setting San Jose back three goals. It could have been even worse but thanks to a tremendous play by Evgeni Nabokov, the talented goalie was able to keep the Kings from scoring on a breakaway by Alexander Frolov making the save on a Matt Moulson rebound.

The Sharks were able to score one more time in the game when #19 Joe Thornton and #16 Devin Setoguchi connected to add the second goal of the evening for San Jose.

Behind 4-2, Coach Ron Wilson pulled Evgeni Nabokov, which gave the Kings their fifth goal of the game, an empty net score and the final 5-2.

This win for the Kings put them in first place in the Pacific division, a division where teams have been struggling. Dallas lost one to Phoenix in a blowout 5-0 last night lofting Los Angeles into first place. Last night’s game set the stage for the re-match down south tonight where the Sharks hope to recover from this loss.

November and December could be pivotal for the Sharks as they take on 18 Pacific division opponents out of 24 games being played. If the Sharks continue to struggle it could spell disaster for the team and for the season. San Jose will be back at HP Pavilion on Wednesday November 7 to take on the Dallas Stars. The puck drops at 7:30