Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings visit San Jose Sharks

Jonathan Quick was the single biggest reason the Los Angeles Kings won the 2012 Stanley Cup. However, 2013 has not been good to him so far: 9-8-2 with a save percentage of .894 and a 2.60 goals against average (GAA). Jonathan Bernier has been much better (5-1-0, .916 save percentage, 1.93 GAA) but is not expected to be in net.Meanwhile, Antti Niemi has carried the San Jose Sharks. Even with three straight games giving up three goals—two with a sub-.900 save percentage—he is 10-5-5 with a 2.01 GAA and .930 save percentage to rank among the best in the NHL. Thomas Greiss and Alex Stalock have a combined .903 save percentage but are just 1-3-1 and have given up 2.85 goals per 60 minutes.If it is a contest of backups, Los Angeles wins. Even if it is a duel of starters, there is a good chance given San Jose's offensive struggles that Jonathan Quick will recapture his 2011-12 form in net. But the assumption on play so far has to be an edge for the home team.Even after losing Willie Mitchell and Matt Greene on their back end, the Los Angeles Kings have one of the best blue lines in the NHL. Jake Muzzin has stepped up with five goals and an assist, while Keaton Ellerby and Davis Drewiske are providing adequate fill-ins at the bottom of the depth chart. Slava Voynov (18) joins Drew Doughty (10) to give them more defensemen in double-digit scoring than San Jose, who has only Dan Boyle (11). Rob Scuderi and Alec Martinez round out a a very good group.Again, the Sharks blue line has the edge in their ow end, especially on the penalty kill. There are few units as good at blocking shots and clearing pucks from in front of the net. This is also a very deep unit, with Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Brad Stuart both capable of playing second-fiddle on a first pair and the fight for the final two spots between capable skaters Jason Demers, Matt Irwin, Douglas Murray and Justin Braun being one catalyst for moving Brent Burns to forward.The edge here has to go with the Kings for being a threat on both ends, but the defense of the Sharks makes it minimal.Jeff Carter has more goals (17) than the bottom dozen forwards for the San Jose Sharks combined, even counting Brent Burns scoring a goal in his only game at the position. Instead of only four forwards in double-digit scoring, the Kings have five. Instead of 11 forwards with a goal, they have 12.The Sharks forwards might have a slight edge defensively, but the Kings definitely have a slight edge on the attack. Even if the enigmatic Martin Havlat were able to return to the lineup, the edge has to go to the road team up front.View the list »
The Los Angeles Kings celebrate winning the Stanley Cup on their home ice

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The Pacific Division rival Los Angeles Kings visit the San Jose Sharks Thursday, March 14. It marks their first match-up since dropping both sides of the home-and-home mini-series to end last season and fall behind behind their Northern California neighbors in the Western Conference standings.

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They probably got over it as soon as they won the 2012 Stanley Cup. But is it possible the Sharks can still carry their long-time dominance to an edge head-to-head? After all, they dominate the Detroit Red Wings even though that team has a title.

One intangible that will be easy to put in the win column for the Kings is how the teams are playing right now. They have just four losses in their last 15 games, while the Sharks have just two non-shootout wins in their last 20.

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While the game is in San Jose, it might as well be part of the road trip because the team will not get three full nights at home before heading off again. Still, the Sharks have only one regulation loss at home all season, and that was to a team that went half the season without losing anything more than a shootout.

The statistical comparison is gives a more defined edge: Los Angeles has a better differentials in shots (plus-4.3 vs. plus-1.6) and goals (scoring about one more every three games than their opponents while San Jose is short one in every six games), on the power play (19.4 to 17 percent) and at even strength where their opponents score less than anyone else in the NHL.

The Sharks have the edge on the penalty kill, 87.2 to 81.6 percent, and hold a 53.2 to 51.7 edge in the circle. Despite having the third-most giveaways in the NHL, they hold a larger edge in takeaways (48 more compared to 32 fewer). The Kings hold a whopping 753-395 edge in hits, but they have 152 fewer blocks—a far less subjective statistic.

In the only stat that matters, San Jose could catch Los Angeles in the Pacific Division and Western Conference standings with a regulation win. When teams are that close, a look at the current personnel can provide a better idea of which team is better than statistics.

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  • Jeff Carter has more goals (17) than the bottom dozen forwards for the San Jose Sharks combined, even counting Brent Burns scoring a goal in his only game at the position. Instead of only four forwards in double-digit scoring, the Kings have five. Instead of 11 forwards with a goal, they have 12.The Sharks forwards might have a slight edge defensively, but the Kings definitely have a slight edge on the attack. Even if the enigmatic Martin Havlat were able to return to the lineup, the edge has to go to the road team up front.
  • Even after losing Willie Mitchell and Matt Greene on their back end, the Los Angeles Kings have one of the best blue lines in the NHL. Jake Muzzin has stepped up with five goals and an assist, while Keaton Ellerby and Davis Drewiske are providing adequate fill-ins at the bottom of the depth chart. Slava Voynov (18) joins Drew Doughty (10) to give them more defensemen in double-digit scoring than San Jose, who has only Dan Boyle (11). Rob Scuderi and Alec Martinez round out a a very good group.Again, the Sharks blue line has the edge in their ow end, especially on the penalty kill. There are few units as good at blocking shots and clearing pucks from in front of the net. This is also a very deep unit, with Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Brad Stuart both capable of playing second-fiddle on a first pair and the fight for the final two spots between capable skaters Jason Demers, Matt Irwin, Douglas Murray and Justin Braun being one catalyst for moving Brent Burns to forward.The edge here has to go with the Kings for being a threat on both ends, but the defense of the Sharks makes it minimal.
  • Jonathan Quick was the single biggest reason the Los Angeles Kings won the 2012 Stanley Cup. However, 2013 has not been good to him so far: 9-8-2 with a save percentage of .894 and a 2.60 goals against average (GAA). Jonathan Bernier has been much better (5-1-0, .916 save percentage, 1.93 GAA) but is not expected to be in net.Meanwhile, Antti Niemi has carried the San Jose Sharks. Even with three straight games giving up three goals—two with a sub-.900 save percentage—he is 10-5-5 with a 2.01 GAA and .930 save percentage to rank among the best in the NHL. Thomas Greiss and Alex Stalock have a combined .903 save percentage but are just 1-3-1 and have given up 2.85 goals per 60 minutes.If it is a contest of backups, Los Angeles wins. Even if it is a duel of starters, there is a good chance given San Jose's offensive struggles that Jonathan Quick will recapture his 2011-12 form in net. But the assumption on play so far has to be an edge for the home team.
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, San Jose Sharks Examiner

Former community leader and featured columnist for the San Jose Sharks on Bleacher Report, MJ Kasprzak has been covering the Bay Area's most successful team for over four years. You may have seen MJ's work featured on Yahoo, CBS Sports and Fox Sports websites as well as numerous other places that...

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