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Game #26

LA KINGS

14-9-2

30 pts

4th in Western Conference

vs

SAN JOSE SHARKS

11-8-6

28 pts

9th in Western Conference

7:30pm, HP Pavillion

San Jose, CA

FSW

BEST CALIFORNIA TEAM TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP:

ONLY CALIFORNIA TEAM TO NEVER WIN THE STANLEY CUP:



LEE STEMPNIAK VS THE LA KINGS SCORING JEFF CARTER'S GOALS UPDATE:

Jeff Carter doesn't score in 2 games and look what happens!!!

LA KINGS PACTRAK:

The LA Kings have earned 0 of a possible 12 points versus 6 straight Pacific Division opponents.

It's kind of hard to believe that the Los Angeles Kings have played the Calgary Flames 3 times already during the 2013 Season but tonight is their 1st game against Northern California rival, the San Jose Sharks. It's been a long time since the LA Kings lost their 2 final games of the regular season against the Sharks last season... thus securing the 7th seed for San Jose in the playoffs. And I think we all know how that turned out, right?

"Man, you guys crushed us!

You are certainly going to make quick work of the Kings, that's for sure!"

It's been nearly 11 months since the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks last met each other, so I thought I'd take an in-depth look at the more prominent players on each team and how they match up heading into the 2nd half of this 48 game NHL Season.

THE CAPTAINS

Dustin Brown has 15 points on the season while the Sharks Captain, Joe Thornton, has 25. Both are former 1st Round draft picks and in the past have been named to their respective country's Olympic rosters . Dustin Brown is known for his hard-hitting while Thornton is known for his incredible strength on the puck and playmaking abilities. But where do Dustin Brown and Joe Thornton really differ when it comes to the style of their play?

Dustin Brown has won a Stanley Cup.

GOAL SCORERS

Jeff Carter and Patrick Marleau are natural-born goal scorers. Marleau started this season off with 9 goals in 5 games but has only scored 3 since. Meanwhile, Jeff Carter has 11 goals in his last 12 games for a season total of 17. Both are known for their quick-release shots and ability to dominate in open space on the ice... but where do Carter and Marleau really differ when it comes to their style of play?

Jeff Carter has won a Stanley Cup.

3rd LINE CENTERS

Jarret Stoll has 4 goals and 5 assists on the season and is getting paid 3.25 million dollars. Michal Handzus has 1 goal and 1 assist and is getting paid 2.5 million dollars this season. But really what is it that sets these two players apart?

Jarett Stoll has won a Stanley Cup.

Oh... and Michal Handzus is now a 4th Line Center.

YOUNG SUPERSTARS

Drew Doughty looks like Pedro from Napoleon Dynamite while Logan Couture looks like Napoleon Dynamite. But what is the biggest difference when it comes to these two best friends?

Drew Doughty has won a Stanley Cup.

VETERAN FORWARDS

Dustin Penner has scored 12 goals over the last season and a half while Scott Gomez has scored 4 over the same timeframe. But in which aspect of their game do Penner and Gomez differ the most?

Oh... this is awkward.

COACHES

Come on, this one is a no brainer.

After compiling the advanced statistics regarding the key players on the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks... one thing really stands out.

The San Jose Sharks have never even been to a Stanley Cup Final.

THE ROYAL HALF GAMEDAY PREVIEW TWEET OF THE DAY



It's the LA Kings Twitter Account "Three for Thursday"...





The Royal Half has been a Los Angeles Kings fan since 1988 and a Half-Season Ticket Holder since 2002. He has seen the following goaltenders play in person for the Los Angeles Kings… Kelly Hrudey, Grant Fuhr, Byron Dafoe, Jamie Storr, Stephane Fiset, Felix Potvin, Cristobal Huet, Roman Cechmanek, Mathieu Garon, Adam Hauser, Jason LaBarbera, Barry Brust, Sean Burke, Dan Cloutier, Yutaka Fukufuji, Jean-Sebastien Aubin, Erik Ersberg, Jonathan Bernier and Jonathan Quick. If you like the hockey equivalent of dirty jokes or enjoy humorous screen-grabs of NHL players and broadcasters with funny captions... man, you are going to like The Royal Half. You can follow The Royal Half on Twitter at @TheRoyalHalf