San Jose @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 7, 2019 ) Los Angeles 1, San Jose 3

The San Jose Sharks' traditional safe haven of SAP Center proved to be treacherous waters during their recent homestand, as the team dropped all three contests to fall three points out of first place in the Pacific Division. The Sharks head south begin a two-game road trip versus the other California clubs, beginning with Thursday's tilt against the Los Angeles Kings.

"I'm concerned. We hadn't played well, we're giving up too many chances, too many easy goals," said Logan Couture, who scored twice in Monday's 7-3 shellacking by Vegas to become San Jose's fifth player to net at least 26 goals this season. While the Sharks were unsuccessful on their third opportunity to clinch a postseason berth for the 14th time in 15 years, the task was accomplished the following night after Minnesota dropped a 3-1 decision to Colorado. Los Angeles officially was eliminated from postseason discussion after falling for the 16th time in 18 outings (2-12-4) following Tuesday's 3-2 loss versus Winnipeg. "It's definitely sour taste and thoughts," said captain Anze Kopitar, who leads the team in goals (20) and points (51). "This whole year has been disappointing and now we are eliminated officially. No one guy in this room should be OK with what's been going on this year."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), FS West (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (43-22-8): Martin Jones received an early exit after yielding three goals on 11 shots in the first period, but a matchup against his former team could be the cure for what ails him. The 29-year-old has turned aside 69 of 75 shots against Los Angeles to post a 2-0-1 mark versus the club with which he spent his first two NHL seasons. Joe Thornton has scored in back-to-back contests to boost his point total to eight (three goals, five assists) in his last nine contests.

ABOUT THE KINGS (25-39-8): Dustin Brown scored his team-leading eighth power-play tally on Monday to boost his season goal total to 19, with three coming in the last four games. Defenseman Drew Doughty set up Brown's goal midway into the second period for his team-leading 36th assist and eighth in the last nine contests. The 2016 Norris Trophy recipient, who has played in a franchise-best 400 consecutive games, did not dent the scoresheet in any of the three meetings with San Jose this season.

OVERTIME

1. San Jose captain Joe Pavelski (team-leading 37 goals) is dealing with a lower-body injury that has him listed as "a little longer than day-to-day" in the eyes of coach Peter DeBoer.

2. Kings LW Ilya Kovalchuk, who capped a two-goal performance by scoring in overtime of a 3-2 win at San Jose on Dec. 22, has been kept off the scoresheet in nine of his last 11 contests.

3. San Jose RW Kevin Labanc, who scored in overtime of a 3-2 win versus Los Angeles on Oct. 5, has 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in his last 13 games.

PREDICTION: Sharks 4, Kings 1