Not the start the Kings were hoping for Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
The Staples Center was electric leading up the game, thanks to a championship ceremony that left Kings' fans with chills. The twenty or so minutes to reminisce not only got the crowd ready for the season's opening faceoff, but it apparently gave San Jose the boost they needed to avenge their monumental collapse last season at the hands of their interstate rival. Tommy Wingels scored two goals, and Antti Niemi stopped all thirty four shots that came his way, as San Jose blasted the Kings 4-0 on opening night.
Both clubs started the game with a sluggish pace, which can only be expected after such a pre-game spectacle put on by Los Angeles. The Kings were the first to get a chance at the opening goal, as Sharks' former captain Patrick Marleau was called for interference. But Niemi and his penalty-killing unit shut down the likes of Marian Gaborik, Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter to keep the game scoreless. The game's opening goal came just minutes later, as Tommy Wingels beat Kings' goaltender Jonathan Quick upstairs with a odd angle shot. The perfectly-placed puck surprised a crouching Quick, who seemingly expected Wingels to make a cross-crease pass rather than snipe one home. This goal seemed to spark the Kings' offensive, as they nearly tied the game shortly after. Less than two minutes after the opening strike, Marian Gaborik nearly potted the rebound of a Kopitar backhand, but Gaborik couldn't control the bouncing puck. San Jose's power play nearly cashed in to make it 2-0 later in the first when Brent Burns narrowly missed a chance after a goal-mouth scramble in Quick's crease. The Sharks' power play would finish the period 0 for 2.
The Kings' started the second strong, nearly finding the back of the net thanks to a Jeff Carter wraparound attempt. However Niemi was big again in goal. It didn't take the Sharks long to reward their goaltender for his efforts. Kyle Clifford was called for tripping at the 16:40 mark, enabling the Marleau to deflect a Brent Burns over Quick's left shoulder for a 2-0 Sharks lead. The middle frame would find the clubs trading unsuccessful power play chances, as both goalies came up big in their respective creases. The game would stay at 2-0 San Jose until just after the 15:00 minutes mark. Tommy Wingels blazed past Drew Doughty and Brayden McNabb to grab a loose puck at open ice. Wingels' burst of speed created a breakaway,which he made the most of to beat Quick with a pretty dangle to make it a commanding 3-0 Sharks lead. San Jose drove the final nail in the coffin less than a minute later, taking advantage of a Jonathan Quick-Mike Richards fumble behind the net. Quick misplayed a puck behind his net, allowing Patrick Marleau to beat Mike Richards and feed Matt Nieto, who easily slipped the puck into the open net. Any excitement from the pre-game celebration was vanquished after the Long Beach native made it a 4-0 contest late in the second period.
Coach Darryl Sutter opted to have backup Martin Jones start the third period in lieu of Jonathan Quick. The change in net did little to inspire the Kings however, as they spend another twenty minutes trying to solve Niemi. Los Angeles ultimately out-shot San Jose 10-3 in the final frame, thanks largely to a 5 on 3 man advantage the Kings failed to convert on. It may not make up for blowing a 3-0 series lead in the 2014 Western Conference Quarterfinals, but the Sharks shut out the defending champs by a score of 4-0 Wednesday night. Antti Niemi was the story for the Sharks. After much controversy and speculation over who would be San Jose's starting netminder this season, Niemi silenced the critics, if only for a night.
Next up for the Kings is a Saturday night showdown in the desert, going up against the Arizona Coyotes. Fans of the Kings can only hope their team focuses less on their title, and more on their title defense.