Kings vs Sharks: Missed Opportunities

Opportunity is a funny thing. Sometimes it comes along when you least expect it, and sometimes you work your tail off to create it. But no matter what the circumstance, you have to be ready to grab it and hold on for dear life, because you may only have one crack at it.

The Kings had a perfect opportunity to improve their position in the Western Conference standings tonight. The Washington Capitals were kind enough to help us by defeating the Detroit Red Wings, who before tonight were only one point behind us, poised to knock us out of 8th place. A win would give us some much needed breathing room. But we had to get past one BIG obstacle - the San Jose Sharks.

Let's break down the plus/minus factors for the Kings tonight:

(+) The Sharks played last night and should be tired
(+) The Kings did not play and should be rested
(+) The Kings are coming off a huge Saturday win against a tough Boston Bruins team
(-) The Sharks dismantled their last opponent, the Calgary Flames - a team the Kings have not managed to beat YET this season.
(-) The Kings homestand record has not been as stellar as their road record this year
(-) The Kings are young and still learning to play with consistency

In the end, the last minus was the one that tipped the scales, and the Kings missed their golden opportunity in a 5-1 loss to the Sharks. It's been the same story all season. When we come out flat and dig ourselves a hole, we rarely get out. And if we do, it takes so much out of us we tank the next few games. Results like 0-5 on the power play and 0-3 on the penalty kill won't get it done, and the boys know it. Now it's up to them to solve the problem. Hopefully some soul searching will happen on our upcoming road trip, along with some wins.

One positive did come out of tonight - Drew got his 27th assist! And at least we don't have to see the Sharks again this season...at least until we make the play-offs. Because I STILL believe we will.

Since my previous game write-ups have more than documented the hotness of the San Jose line-up, I decided to switch gears a little and forgo my regular "Opposing Team Hottie of the Night" feature. Instead, I decided to do a fan profile, and who better to start with than my friend Chelsea Alexander.



As you can tell from the jersey, Chelsea is a Sharks fan. Don't hold it against her, because she's the best example of the kind of competitive but respectful San Jose fan I've described in my previous posts. When she's not studying for her degree in criminal justice, or mentoring at-risk kids as a volunteer for Echoes of Hope, she covers the Sharks for The Hockey Writers. And believe me when I tell you, she knows her stuff.



When the Sharks are struggling, Chelsea will be the first person to call them on it and dissect the problem. When things go well, like tonight, she's still a gracious winner and always finds something constructive and even positive to say about the competition. If you're new to hockey, check her out because she's got a great way of putting things in understandable terms. If you're a seasoned hockey fan, read her stuff because it's smart and insightful. And if you're a social media junkie, you can also follow her live game updates on Twitter. And she's Kings fan approved...



Hopefully the Kings find some solutions soon, as they take to the ice Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres. Maybe the fact that our record against the East is great will help end this homestand on a high note. And since we aren't playing the Sharks, Chelsea can help me root for the Kings...