Sharks at Kings
Captain Logan Couture has found his goal-scoring touch to help the San Jose Sharks turn the tide following a demoralizing start to the season. Couture is riding high with a six-game point streak (three goals, seven assists) for the Sharks, who bid for their ninth win in 10 outings on Monday when they visit the Los Angeles Kings.
"We're right in it now after a horrendous start," Couture told reporters. "We've given ourselves an opportunity to make a push here and collect more points, so I think that's enough motivation right there." The 30-year-old mustered just one goal during San Jose's 4-10-1 start to the season before netting four to go along with 10 assists in his last eight contests, highlighted by becoming the first player in franchise history to score an overtime goal in consecutive team games. While the Sharks have a winning record for the first time this season, the Kings had emerged victorious in four of their previous five contests before falling to Antti Raanta and Arizona for the second time in six days. "It was a much better effort than what we saw Monday in Arizona, I thought we created more and we played with more authority," Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan said following Saturday's 3-2 setback.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, NBCS California (San Jose), FS West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE SHARKS (12-11-1): Evander Kane set up Couture's overtime goal on Saturday for his 10th point (five goals, five assists) in 11 games during November. Marcus Sorensen scored versus the New York Islanders on Saturday for just his fourth point this month and was held off the scoresheet in all four encounters with the Kings last season. Martin Jones posted a 2-1-1 record with a 2.22 goals-against average and .917 save percentage in those four games versus Los Angeles, although his 1-4-1 mark with a 3.79 GAA and .877 SP on the road this season leaves plenty to be desired.
ABOUT THE KINGS (9-13-1): Captain Anze Kopitar scored in his second consecutive contest on Saturday, giving him five of his club-best nine goals in the last seven games. The 32-year-old also has six assists in his last nine contests to boost his team-leading point total to 24. Impressive numbers to be certain for Kopitar, who has registered 56 points (20 goals, 36 assists) in 71 career meetings with the Sharks - with four (three goals, one assists) coming in four encounters last season.
OVERTIME
1. Los Angeles D Drew Doughty has seven points (one goal, six assists) in his last five games.
2. San Jose has won 43 straight games when allowing two or fewer goals, tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins (Feb. 21, 2012-Oct. 17, 2013) for the NHL record.
3. The Kings have recorded seven of their nine wins at Staples Center this season.