The Kings roll out the 2008-09 team Sunday for their home opener against division rival San Jose. They were embarrassed last night in the season opener at San Jose, 3-1. For a home opener, on a Sunday, at 6 p.m., it's pretty empty in Staples Center. Granted, the Dodgers are playing a hop, skip and jump away at Chavez Ravine in the NLCS. But still...

Dustin Brown got the loudest ovation from the assembled throngs at Staples Center, although Anze Kopitar was a close second. When Rob Blake was announced as a starter, he was lustifully booed by Staples Center. Davis Gaines sung what seemed like the loooooooongest National Anthem. Cartman returns to Staples center, urging fans to chant "Respect Our Authoritah!"

The starting lineup of Kopitar, Brown and Moulson take to the ice and register a decent shift, Frolov is on a line with Handzus and Simmonds, and O'Sullivan is paired with Stoll and Moller.

Rob Blake gets whistled for interference, as Kopitar and Brown and joined by O'Sullivan. But the Kings can't get anything going and the sides are equal. Greene gets the call for hooking, and the Sharks go oN the PP. Moulson turns on the jets and gets a short-handed shot, but is turned away. The Kings kill the penalty, but the Sharks maintain their pressure. The Kings have a hard time clearing the puck, until Kopitar bats one down the ice.

The Kings' Ice Girls make their Staples Center debut, scooping up ice in between action, to a rousing meh from the crowd. Hopefully, the cleaner ice will help the Kings free the puck from their zone. Interest in the press box turns to the TV screens, as the Dodgers and Phillies apparently have a bench-clearing something-or-other.

There seems to lack a certain veteran toughness on the ice. The Sharks seem to carry the pucks unhindered into the Kings end, and maintain regular pressure. The only line producing any kind of sustained pressure is the  Brown/Kopitar/Moulson line.

Doughty gets two for hooking as the Kings go back on the PK, and San Jose fails to capitalize.

First period: Kings 0, Sharks 0

The Kings start off with the top line again getting several chances.

Semenov (snicker) gets two for interference as the Kings go on the PP. Preissing hits the post in the only real chance L.A. has, and the Sharks kill the penalty. Brown pounds Cheechoo to the boards as the crowd cheers loudly.

The Kings go on the power play, when Shelley gets the call for cross-checking. the Kings finally get some shots on the board and now lead 11-8.

The Sharks get a three-on-two and make the Kings pay, as Kaspar rings one off the post past LaBarbera to put the Sharks up, 1-0, Marleau gets the assist. Kaspar then turns around and gets called for hooking. So the Kings try to even the score on the PP.

Jarret Stoll appears to score, but the refs call the play dead, as Brown apparently was in the crease. Then, Kopitar gets the rest of the period off for breaking the glass near the bench, receiving a 10-minute penalty.

O'Sullivan looks a little rusty in his first game, but that's to be expected. He does seem eager to jump back into play when he misses a shot.

The Kings tie the game when Moulson redirects a Stoll shot, allowing the puck to trickle past Boucher. The crowd erupts in anticipation, but is quickly turns sour when the play is reviewed. Turns out the goal is disallowed, causing the Staples Center crowd to turn ugly.

With Kopitar off the ice, Stoll joins Brown and Moulson on the top line, as Murray rearranges his lines to fill the void of his All-Star center. The Kings take an early lead in shots at the end of the second, but San Jose remains on top.

Second period: Sharks 2, Kings 1

The third period starts with both clubs not really gaining any sort of advantage. Johnson is out, and Anze still has a while before his misconduct penalty is over. The Kings actually stopped play and looked to be setting up a training camp exercise, lining up to start a breakout. The crowd urges them on, wondering why the sudden slowdown of action. The Kings break out, skate in the zone, and turn the puck over.

Jason LaBarbera is doing a nice job in net, playing nice and steady.

Frolov has a chance for a breakaway, but is denied by Boucher. His linemate Simmonds looks a little lost out there, but that's expected. Things are getting sloppy in the third, where any kind of semblance of a game plan has gone out the window.

A fresh Kopitar makes an impression upon returning to the ice, drawing a tripping penalty. But again, the Kings fail to capitalize. Semenov (snicker) tries to start a little static with Moulson, but is halted by the Zebra Crew.

With one minute, L.A. pulls LaBarbera. After messing about in their zone, L.A. runs out of time. They drop the home opener, 1-0. Both teams only had three shots on net in the third. So now, the Kings are down two games in the tight Pacific race. O.K., maybe I'm getting ahead of myself there.

Final score: Sharks 1, Kings 0