Game 68: Sharks 2, Kings 1 (shootout)

Sorry, it's been a busy Sunday. Life gets busy sometimes. I'm sure you'll understand.

Nevertheless, the Kings were in this game until the very end. And it took seven rounds of the shootout to decide a winner. And it's all thanks to the steady play of Erik Ersberg.

Iceberg, as he's called by some fans for the ice that flows through his veins, was solid in net, making 38 saves against one of the best teams in the league. Making his first start since signing his 2-year extension, Ersberg did what was asked of him. He did his part.

The Kings special teams also did their part. The Kings killed all nine penalties, improving their penalty kill to ninth in the league. Matt Greene, two games removed from being busted wide open, had five blocked shots and playing a bunch on the PK. Sean O'Donnell led all skaters on the PK  with almost 8 minutes TOI. The Special teams did their part.

The scorers.... well, you know what I'm going to point out. The short-handed opportunity Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown had where both forgot they are actually allowed to shoot the puck. The Kings only mustered 24 shots, 7 of which came from the stick of Wayne Simmonds. If there is blame to be placed for the loss, it has to be on the offense, minus Simmonds, who has stepped up his game considerably.

Two losses finds the Kings entrenched in 13th in the Pacific, with time running out. And if the Fat Lady hasn't sung yet, she's certainly watching each game and practicing her scales. However, she's probably as entertained as the rest of us.

The Kings are fun to watch again. They aren't Must See TV, yet. But as soon as they can convince themselves they have the tools and the talent... It'll be a thing of beauty.

• AP:  Sharks upend Kings in shootout

"We played very well," Kings coach Terry Murray said. "Coming into San Jose at 3 in the morning from Vancouver and coming out with that kind of performance, it was as good as they can play."

• Royal Road Report: OD 1000

The Kings are 19-for-75 on the power play in the last 15 games (25.3 percent). They’ve scored a power-play goal in six of their last seven games and in 19 of their last 23 games. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is an impressive 22-for-23 on the penalty kill the last five games (95.7 percent).

• Yahoo: Team report

They said it

"On the road, we just play sound defensively, wait for the mistakes, wait for our power plays and capitalize. With a young team, we maybe don’t realize all the time how close we are and how exciting this can be. I think being on the road is better than being at home and feeling the need to put on a show for the fans and that added pressure with everything at home."
– Sean O'Donnell, Kings defenseman

Looking through purple-hued goggles

• A Queen Among Kings: Fantastic Goaltending: Sharks 2, Kings 1 (SO)

One particular play that had me spewing profanities at the TV was when Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar had a 2-0 break after Joe Thornton broke his stick. The two had no one near them and neither took charge to get the shot off. Brownie overskated it and passed to Kopi who ALSO overskated. Unbelievable. To flounder a chance in a game where every single one matters absolutely kills the momentum that you're trying to create.

• Purple Crushed Velvet: Kings 1, Sharks 2 (SO)

7 rounds. 7. I'm impressed the Kings made it through 3 rounds without losing and it's such a heartbreaker to see them lose to the San Jose Sharks in the 7th round of the shootout. Kopitar hit the post, Jack snipered one in, Doughty had 1,000 touches but Nabokov never flinched, Brown ran out of room and never got a final whack on the puck, Frolov shot it wide, Handzus, who I was positive was going to end it, did something unremarkable, and Purcell had to tie it to keep it going but failed when Nabokov got his pads on it.

• Battle For California: Wayne Simmonds Needs a Nickname

So he needs a nickname.  I nominate "Cool Runnings."  He looks just like Leon from Cool Runnings and Cliffhanger, so it fits there, plus we can say, "Feel the rhythm!" whenever Simmonds rails someone.  And then when a King signs with someone else for more money, I can imagine Simmonds saying, "It amazes me, in this day and age, when a man would put money before the personal safety of himself and his bitch."  Then I'll giggle.

From across the aisle, the San Jose view

• MercuryNews.com: Nabokov's return sparks Sharks over Kings

• FearTheFin.com: Sharks Beat Kings 2-1

Peeping the dailies