Sharks get ready for Montreal after disappointment in L A….

Monday Night’s game for the Sharks against the Los Angeles Kings was a tough night for the Sharks and their fans. Behind Jonathan Quick’s 33 saves coupled goals from Ethan Moreau and Mike Richards, the LA Kings dealt the Sharks a good sized slice of humble pie in a 2-0 win at the Staples Center. The Sharks got off to a slow start and goalie Antti Niemi was hit with a barrage of shots early as the Kings kept the pressure in the Sharks zone for much of the first period. E Moreau put L A on the board at 8:37 of the first period as he took advantage of a Sharks turnover by taking a loose puck and then drilling an odd angle slap shot that hit Niemi and when into the net underneath the Sharks netminder. The Kings managed 16 shots on the Sharks net as team teal did their best to survive the first period. The Sharks had 11 shots on net themselves, but never sustained any long term pressure and most of Quick’s saves were rather routine.

The second period was a little more evenly played, but once again it was the Kings who got the best end of the deal as a M Richards four on four goal put L A up by a deuce. The Sharks play started to pick up later in the period. The Sharks acutally had several chances through the later half of the second period and throughout the third, but even with the opportunities created by five power plays, the Sharks could not solve Quick who made several saves that were reminiscent of a Patrick Roy or Dominic Hasek type performance. By games end, all the Sharks could do is tip their cap to Quick (you have to give credit where credit is due), and head back home with a tough donut to show for their efforts.

One of the keys to the loss Monday was the Sharks really getting off to a slow start. Their was nothing crisp about their game early on, and when you don’t bring your “A Game” with you, and your playing a division rival on the road, that’s a recipe for a loss. Though the Sharks may have had a bit of a hangover from the loss at the Tank to Vancouver on Saturday, one of the keys to success going forward is to have a short term memory of such games (wins or losses). The focus has to be on the task at hand, and that task only. The Kings despite losing to Chicago 2-1 in L A Saturday Night, were ready to go against the Sharks and made the most of the opportunities the Sharks gave them.