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Los Angeles Kings @ San Jose: Game Time, Injuries, Keys, Stats

By Matt Pelkey

December 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) collides with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alec Martinez (27) during the first period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) collides with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alec Martinez (27) during the first period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Kings @ San Jose Sharks – Sunday, January 24, 2016

The Los Angeles Kings will head to San Jose where they’ll battle the Sharks for the fourth time this season. San Jose currently leads the season series 2-1, including a 5-3 win in their most recent meeting with L.A. back on December 22, 2015.

Both teams enter Sunday’s tilt having each played Saturday night. The game will also be the third in four nights for both squads. Last night the Sharks pulled out a 4-3 home victory over the Minnesota Wild while the Kings fell 3-2 in Arizona.

San Jose has been playing some of its best hockey of the season, having earned at least a point in their previous eight games including seven wins. Adding to their hot play, the Sharks have already scored 11 goals in just three games versus Los Angeles this season with two games still left to play. Last season, San Jose scored a total of 11 goals in five games against the Kings.

Los Angeles is currently heading toward the opposite end of the spectrum, having now dropped three of their last five games. Last night’s defeat in Arizona marked the fourth time this season that they have lost back-to-back games in regulation.

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The key for the Kings

Secondary scoring

More from Kings News

Aside from Nick Shore’s marker against the Coyotes last night, the last time a player in a bottom-6 role on the Los Angeles Kings scored a goal was back on January 11 when Dwight King scored an empty-net goal in a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The last time a “depth” player scored a goal that wasn’t on an empty net was January 2 (10 games ago), also scored by King, in a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Vincent Lecavalier has tallied three goals since he was acquired on January 6, but they were all scored on the power play and Lecavalier has seen increased time in the top-6 lately.

The Kings have heavily relied on their top players to get the job done offensively as of late, and though it’s a good thing that their stars are producing, teams need secondary scoring to go far. Getting scoring from the bottom of their lineup has been something L.A. has normally done well but have been missing recently.

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Game Info

Game Time: 7:00 p.m. (PT)/10:00 p.m. (ET)
Location: SAP Center – San Jose, CA
TV: Fox Sports West (FS-W), Sportsnet (SN)
Radio: AM 790 KABC
Online Stream: NHL GameCentre Live
Odds: SJ -120

SAP Center
Mar 14, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; Outside view of south ticket entrance of the SAP Center before the game between the San Jose Sharks and the Chicago Blackhawks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /

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Injury Report

Los Angeles
Injured Reserve – D Matt Greene (Shoulder), LW Kyle Clifford (Upper Body)

San Jose
Questionable – C Dainius Zubrus (Upper Body)

Next: Los Angeles Kings: Milan Lucic Wants to Stay in Los Angeles

The Stats

Los Angeles
Last Game: 01/23/16 @ ARI (3-2 L)
Next Game: 01/27/16 vs. COL
Points: 61 (5th)
GF: 123 (15th)
GA: 107 (3rd)
Road: 14-7-2
Last 10: 5-4-2
Streak: L2

San Jose
Last Game: 01/23/16 vs. MIN (4-3 W)
Next Game: 01/26/16 vs. COL
Points: 53 (15th)
GF: 134 (7th)
GA: 125 (16th)
Home: 9-12-1
Last 10: 7-2-1
Streak: W2

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