LA Kings vs San Jose Sharks Preview: Key Points, Projected Lines, and More

Let's get right back at it. After a disappointing final 20 minutes last night, the Los Angeles Kings play host to the San Jose Sharks tonight in the second half of the back-to-back.

Look Back at the Last Meeting:

Things got ugly the last time these two teams met, with San Jose putting up a seven-spot on the Kings. LA, who had a 2-1 lead through two periods, got goals from Brandt Clarke and Anze Kopitar. David Rittich, tonight's starter, was the losing goaltender.

Key Points Against the San Jose Sharks:

1. Rookie Romanov

Georgi Romanov is set to make just his 2nd NHL start tonight in LA. What a couple of years it has been for the Russian-born goaltender. After beginning last season in the ECHL, Romanov climbed his way to the AHL with the Barracuda before appearing in two NHL games last year. Now, this season, with San Jose trading goaltender Vitek Vanecek and top prospect Yaroslav Asakrov being injured, he is getting a chance again this season. So far in his very brief NHL career, facing just 70 total shots, he is 0-1-0 with a 2.31 goals against average and .914 save percentage.

With San Jose icing a rookie goaltender and a very young defensive core, look for LA to have a heavy shooter mentality in this one.

2. Special Teams Problems

As we have seen so many times over the years, the special teams battle was the deciding factor last night against Toronto.

The Kings went 0/3 on the power play, gave up a shorthanded goal, and the eventual game-winning goal came on a Toronto power play. Yikes. It felt like there was a lack of urgency at times, especially on the shorthanded goal. Yes, it was a high stick, but Matthews was able to break up the blue line play, go down for a breakaway, and then, after being stopped, regain the puck and find a shooting angle to beat Kuemper, essentially going 1v5.

The Kings know they can be better, and we have seen better. Expect an increase in intensity on the man advantage from LA.

Los Angeles Lineup Notes:

No morning skate today with the back-to-back, so we will have to wait until Jim Hiller's pregame media availability to learn of any lineup changes. David Rittich is projected to start. Here is how things lined up last night.

Look across the ice at the San Jose Sharks:

The Sharks were also active last night, dropping their matchup with the Rangers 6-1. Overall, San Jose is 4-6-0 in their last 10. Here is how they hit the ice last night:

San Jose is led offensively by William Eklund and Macklin Celebrini, who have 54 and 53 points, respectively. Longtime LA King Tyler Toffoli leads the Sharks in goals, with 27. Defensively, the point leader is Timothy Liljegren, with 14.

As mentioned above, Georgi Romanov will get the start for San Jose.

The Sharks are without captain Logan Couture, Vincent Desharnais, Henry Thrun, and Yaroslav Askarov due to injuries.

How to Tune In:

Tonight's puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PST and 10:00 p.m. EST and is available to watch on ESPN, ESPN+, or Hulu. An audio-only feed is available on the ESPN LA app. Go, Kings Go!