2014 Opening Night Preview
Los Angeles Kings
Not much has changed for the boys in Hollywood over the offseason, nothing at all except another ring to add to the mantle. Nothing is different on the ice either, as the team is set to take on the San Jose Sharks Wednesday night. The Kings will dress almost the same exact line-up that won them their 2nd Stanley Cup in 3 years, last June. These days in sports, it is rare to see a championship team keep all of its pieces after a winning season. The front office in LA led by Dean Lombardi has achieved something special here with many of the team’s key contributors inked for a long time. The Kings are poised to go back to back for the first time since 97’-98’, when the Detroit Red Wings were the class of the NHL. Detroit was a dynasty then, is there another now?
The LA Kings are certainly on a path where they could be. With arguably the top two players at their respective positions in the NHL, it’s no telling how far defenseman Drew Doughty and goalie Jonathan Quick will take this team. Head coach Daryl Sutter will once again lead a group that know what it takes to capture Lord Stanley. Sutter will need the same efforts out of blue collar heroes Tyler Toffoli and Dwight King. The same jaw-dropping plays from Anze Kopitar and Doughty. The same leadership out of guys like Dustin Brown, Mike Richards, and Justin Williams. Of course the Kings will require the same Conn Smythe winning net minding out of Quick. A couple more game winners off of Alec Martinez’ stick would not hurt either. If you happened to miss the celebration following Martinez's Stanley Cup winner 4 months ago, you missed seeing how tight-knit this team really is. If the retention of all players by front office says anything at all, it says this group knows they are on the verge of something special. With greatness on the sunny Los Angeles horizon, this team will be a force in the NHL for years to come.
San Jose Sharks
The Californian cousins of the north get set to hit the ice as well Wednesday night. They will face a familiar foe in the Kings who have eliminated them in two straight post-seasons. The polar opposite of a dynasty, the Sharks are staring down the barrel of the team’s biggest fire sale since dealing Owen Nolan to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2003. Looking again to break a streak of 9 straight playoff exits, are the Joe Thornton led San Jose Sharks. Following their second straight elimination from the hands of the Kings, heads were set to roll in San Jose. Ownership instead decided to let GM Doug Wilson and head coach Todd McLellan have another crack at things, but time will tell if we will see the same old song and dance.
Veteran defenseman Dan Boyle found a new home this offseason on Broadway and will not be on the blue line Wednesday for San Jose. Looking to fill that void, long-time “tweener” Brent Burns will revert back to his defensive side and play the point for the Sharks for the foreseen future. With Burns on the back end though the Sharks may see some holes this season on the right wing, as San Jose failed to add anyone of note through costless agency. Sophomore players Tomas Hertl and Tommy Wingels however, will look to build upon sensational rookie campaigns as well as first year player Matthew Nieto. Still kicking around are Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, and neither one looks as though they have lost a significant step. But if the Sharks end up falling face first out of the playoffs again, this may be the last year we see the two together. Heck, this might be the last year we see a lot of faces together in San Jose. That same sunny horizon in Los Angeles is not as bright the more north you get.
Final Prediction: Los Angeles Kings 3 - San Jose Sharks 1
The Sharks are caught standing around watching as another banner is raised in the Staples Center.
3 Stars: 1. Anze Kopitar – 1 G, 1 A. 2. Drew Doughty – 2 A. 3. Jonathan Quick – 24 Saves, 1 GA.