Sharks at Kings
After making a brief pitstop at home, the San Jose Sharks return to the road as they begin a three-game trek on Monday afternoon against the slumping Los Angeles Kings. San Jose completed a 1-2-2 trip before outlasting Arizona 6-5 in overtime at SAP Center on Saturday.
Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored the winner 2:42 into the extra session while Joonas Donskoi recorded two goals - including the game-tying tally with 16 seconds remaining in the third period - and an assist to lead four players with three-point performances for the Sharks, who halted their three-game slide (0-1-2). The Kings enter with a three-game overall losing streak after Saturday's 4-2 setback against Anaheim, which dropped them to 0-2-0 on their four-game homestand. Jonathan Quick has allowed 11 goals during the skid, which would match the longest of the season for Los Angeles with a defeat on Monday. Captain Anze Kopitar ended his eight-game goal-scoring drought - and extended his point streak to four contests - in the loss to the Ducks.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, NHL Network, Sportsnet, NBCS California (San Jose), FS West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (22-13-6): Joe Thornton recorded a goal and two assists Saturday, moving him one point ahead of Adam Oates (1,420) for 17th place on the all-time list. The 38-year-old Thornton, who will pass Wayne Gretzky for 21st in NHL history when he skates in his 1,488th career game on Monday, is five assists away from tying Mario Lemieux (1,033) for 11th place. Reigning Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns, who leads the team with 33 points, has landed on the scoresheet in 13 of his last 15 contests - recording seven multi-point performances in that span - and carries a five-game point streak (one goal, seven assists) into Monday's matchup.
ABOUT THE KINGS (24-14-5): Defenseman Jake Muzzin, who has missed two games with an upper-body injury, practiced on Sunday and hopes to be medically cleared to play against San Jose. Drew Doughty is tied for third on the team with 30 points but has registered just one in his last four contests. The 28-year-old former Norris winner's next goal will be his 100th in the NHL.
OVERTIME
1. The Sharks activated D Dylan DeMelo (flu) from injured reserve and loaned F Marcus Sorensen, who notched three goals in 15 games with the team this campaign, to the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League.
2. Los Angeles recalled C Jonny Brodzinski, who recorded two tallies in 22 contests with the club earlier this season, from Ontario of the AHL.
3. San Jose G Martin Jones, who was pulled Saturday after allowing three goals on six shots, is expected to be in net against the Kings.