April 14, 2011
CSNBayArea.com
Sharks (48-25-9) vs. Kings (46-30-6), 7 p.m.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Previous games
The second-seeded Sharks wrapped up the regular season with a 3-1 victory over the Coyotes. Ian White, Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski scored for San Jose, while Antti Niemi made 35 saves.
The seventh-seeded Kings lost their final two games, both against Anaheim. They scored exactly one goal in three of their final four regular-season games.
Recent encounters
The Sharks went 3-1-2 against the Kings this season, including a 6-0 win in the last meeting on April 4.
News
Who's hot?
Since Feb. 23, Patrick Marleau has recorded at least one point in 17 of 21 games. Niemi has allowed more than one goal just once in his last six starts.
Storylines
Will the Sharks be able to control the tempo, or can the Kings - playing without injured star Anze Kopitar - be able to slow things down? Is this the year the Sharks finally make a deep postseason run? Can Couture carry his stellar rookie season over to the playoffs?
Sound off
What is your prediction for the series?