SAN JOSE SHARKS NOTES:
LAST GAME
Game 42 – 1/10 – SJS 4 at ARI 2…Kevin Labanc (1g, 1a) recorded a multi-point game to help the Sharks overcome a first intermission deficit and defeat the Arizona Coyotes, 4-2, Tuesday at Mullett Arena. Nico Sturm (1g, 0a) joined Labanc in hitting double-digit goals for the season, each netting their 10th of the campaign on Tuesday, and Matt Nieto (1g, 0a) provided the game-winner 0:09 into the final frame before Jaycob Megna (1g, 0a) lit the lamp for the first time this season with an insurance marker. Erik Karlsson extended his road assist streak to 11 games, the fourth defenseman in the last 30 years to string together helpers in 11 straight on the road.
SJ Goals: Labanc (10), Sturm (10), Nieto (8), Megna (1)
SF: 33
SA: 29
SJ PP: 0/2
SJ PK: 4/4
W: Kahkonen
L: Vejmelka
RECENT SHARKS TRANSACTIONS
1/6 Claimed F Mikey Eyssimont off waivers; placed D Radim Simek on IR
1/5 Recalled D Nick Cicek from the San Jose Barracuda
1/4 Assigned D Nick Cicek to the San Jose Barracuda
1/1 Recalled D Nick Cicek from the San Jose Barracuda
12/22 Assigned F C.J. Suess to the San Jose Barracuda
12/20 Activated D Mario Ferraro off IR
12/20 Recalled F C.J. Suess from the San Jose Barracuda
12/18 Assigned D Nick Cicek and F C.J. Suess to the San Jose Barracuda
12/17 Placed F Luke Kunin on IR; activated F Matt Nieto off IR
TONIGHT’S OPPONENT: LOS ANGELES KINGS
The Los Angeles Kings host the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday in the third of three meetings this season between the Pacific Division rivals, L.A. having banked wins in the first two tilts with the most recent result coming in overtime at Crypto.com Arena in December. The Kings have won three of four overall coming into Wednesday’s matchup, last prevailing Monday against the Edmonton Oilers, 6-3. Jaret Anderson-Dolan has been most effective against San Jose this season offensively with three points and two goals in the two meetings between the clubs. Phillip Danault also has a pair against the Sharks this season. Defenseman Drew Doughty boasts a series-best plus-4 rating in the season set.
STORYLINES
DEFENSE TO OFFENSE…With an assist provided by Marc-Edouard Vlasic on Oskar Lindblom’s second period goal at DAL on Dec. 31, San Jose became the first NHL team to have their defensemen reach 100 points on the season. San Jose blueliners then added five points (1g, 4a) on Jan. 1, with four of the six in the game finding the score sheet, and another three helpers on Jan. 6 at Anaheim. Most recently, Sharks defensemen combined for three points against Boston on Jan. 7 with Mario Ferraro scoring a goal and Matt Benning and Vlasic adding assists, and a goal from Jaycob Megna and a helper from Erik Karlsson on Tuesday. The Sharks lead the league in assists (93) and points (113) from defensemen this season. Last campaign, the Sharks finished 23rd and 25th in the League with 151 points and 117 assists, respectively, from defensemen. Below is a breakdown of San Jose’s defensive scoring this season.
LOS ANGELES KINGS NOTES:
JAN. 11 vs. SAN JOSE SHARKS – 7:00 PM PT // Venue: Crypto.com Arena // TV: TNT // Radio: iHeartRadio, Tu Liga
-The LA Kings host the San Jose Sharks for the third, and final, meeting between these two clubs this season (5-2 W on Nov. 25; 3-2 SOW on Dec. 17).
-The Kings look aim to sweep the regular-season series against the Sharks for the first time in franchise history.
WARM-UPS
1) Monday night vs. Edmonton marked the first time in franchise history two Kings skaters scored two or more power-play goals in a single game (Kevin Fiala – 2; Adrian Kempe – 2).
2) No team has played the Sharks more in league history than the Kings (171 GP).
3) Jaret Anderson-Dolan leads all Kings skaters in scoring versus San Jose this year with three points (2-1=3) in two games. Four of his 10 career goals have been scored against the Sharks.
4) The Kings are 14-1-0 when leading after two periods of play.
5) Adrian Kempe established a new single game career-high eight shots on goal Monday night vs. Edmonton.
vs. SAN JOSE ALL-TIME:
All-Time Record: 73-75-7-16
Home: 43-31-4-7
Away: 30-44-3-9
OT: 13-18 (7 ties)
Shootout: 4-8
2021-22: 1-2-1
2022-23: 2-0-0
FRANCHISE LEADERS vs. SAN JOSE:
Anze Kopitar* – 88 GP, 67 PTS (26-41=67)
Dustin Brown – 92 GP, 57 PTS (25-32=57)
Luc Robitaille – 51 GP, 48 PTS (23-25=48)
Wayne Gretzky – 25 GP, 40 PTS (10-30=40)
Drew Doughty* – 70 GP, 35 PTS (5-30=35)
*-denotes active roster player
LAST MEETING vs. SAN JOSE: Dec. 17, 2022 – LAK 3 vs. SJS 2 (SO)
Venue: Crypto.com Arena
LAK Goals: Danault (8), Anderson-Dolan (3), Moore (SO GDG)
SJS Goals: Meier (15), Lebanc (7)
Goalies: LAK: Copley (W, 23 saves, 25 shots) SJS: Reimer (L, 39 saves, 41 shots)
LAK PP: 1-for-4
LAK PK: 2-for-3
THE NEXT THREE:
Sat., Jan. 14 | vs. New Jersey Devils | 7:30 p.m. PT | Bally Sports West | LA Kings iHeart Radio Audio Network
The Kings have won four of their last five contests against the Devils, dating back to Feb. 5, 2019 (4-1-0).
Thurs., Jan. 19 | vs. Dallas Stars | 7:30 p.m. PT | Bally Sports West | LA Kings iHeart Radio Audio Network
The Kings defeated the Dallas Stars earlier this month on Jan. 3 at Crypto.com Arena, 3-2.
Sat., Jan. 21 | at Nashville Predators | 7:00 p.m. PT | Bally Sports West | LA Kings iHeart Radio Audio Network
The Kings look for their third consecutive victory over the Predators (6-1 W on March 22, 2022; 4-3 SOW on Oct. 18, 2022).
INJURY & MGL REPORT
Player, Games Missed, Date(s), Status
F Alex Iafallo, 23 games, Oct. 18 – Dec. 3 (lower-body)
F Brendan Lemieux, 18 games, Nov. 14 – Dec. 20 (lower-body)
F Arthur Kaliyev, 9 games, Dec. 22 – Pres. (lower-body)
F Trevor Moore, 7 games, Dec. 27 – Pres. (upper-body)
F Quinton Byfield, 6 games, Oct. 27 – Nov. 5 (illness)
F Viktor Arvidsson, 2 games, Oct. 13 (illness); Oct. 25 (illness)
D Sean Durzi, 2 games, Nov. 19 – Nov. 22. (lower-body)
D Drew Doughty, 1 game, Dec. 11 (lower-body)
F Gabriel Vilardi, 1 game, Nov. 27 (lower-body)
2022-23 Total Regular-Season Man-Games Lost: 69
RECENT TRANSACTIONS (as of 1/10/23)
Dec. 27 – Arthur Kaliyev (F) placed on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 20.
Dec. 31 – Jordan Spence (D) loaned to Ontario (AHL).
Jan. 5 – Jacob Moverare (D) recalled from Ontario (AHL).
Jan. 6 – Trevor Moore (F) placed on injured reserve.
Jan. 6 – Brandt Clarke re-assigned to Barrie (OHL).
Jan. 8 – Jacob Moverare (D) loaned to Ontario (AHL).
Jan. 9 – Jordan Spence (D) recalled from Ontario (AHL).
