Los Angeles @ San Jose preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 25, 2019 ) San Jose 4, Los Angeles 3

The San Jose Sharks recorded a 4-3 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Kings earlier in the week to improve to 9-1-0 in a 10-game stretch before falling flat in their last outing. The Sharks look to overcome their misstep and get back on the fast track Friday when they host the Kings.

"We were lifeless," San Jose coach Peter DeBoer said following Wednesday's 5-1 setback against Winnipeg. "I don't know what the answer is. We've got a lot of hockey left to play here over the next two or three weeks, so I hope it's not fatigue." The Sharks better have more in the tank as they return from Thanksgiving with a back-to-back set against Los Angeles and Arizona (Saturday). The Kings avenged their 4-3 overtime loss to San Jose and improved to 5-2-1 in their last eight contests with a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Wednesday. Alex Iafallo, who set up Dustin Brown's first-period goal against the Islanders, has recorded back-to-back multi-point performances after notching two assists versus the Sharks on Monday.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), NBCS California (San Jose)

ABOUT THE KINGS (10-13-2): Jonathan Quick, who has been the subject of critical comments from Todd McLellan, received a verbal bouquet from his coach after improving to 5-1-1 record with 2.00 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in his past seven appearances. "His (season) numbers don't reflect how well he's played," McLellan said. "A couple games early in the year got away on him, and if you start with numbers that aren't really good, whether power play, penalty kill or goaltender numbers, it's hard to get them back. It takes a long time, but he's been tremendous over the last little bit." Captain Anze Kopitar has been tremendous for a long time, and the 32-year-old has continued that stretch with a goal and an assist against the Sharks before setting up Iafallo's tally late in the third period to extend his point streak to four games (three goals, two assists).

ABOUT THE SHARKS (13-12-1): San Jose shot itself in the foot by failing to take advantage of its power plays on Wednesday, an all-too-common theme for the team of late. "Maybe if we started the game a little simpler and got the momentum with the first couple of power plays, maybe it would have been a different story," defenseman Erik Karlsson said after the Sharks mustered just eight shots on goal in six power plays to fall to 0-for-13 with the man advantage over the last five games. Karlsson, who scored San Jose's last power-play goal on Nov. 16, collected a goal and an assist in the previous encounter with Los Angeles.

OVERTIME

1. San Jose C Joe Thornton recorded his 663rd primary assist on Melker Karlsson's goal on Wednesday, moving him within one of Adam Oates for sixth all-time in NHL history.

2. Brown has four points (two goals, two assists) in his last four games after being held off the scoresheet in 13 of his previous 16.

3. DeBoer listed C Tomas Hertl as doubtful to play on Friday, which would mark the fifth straight game he'll miss due to an undisclosed injury.

PREDICTION: Sharks 3, Kings 2