Kings 1st and 3rd lines came up huge. 2nd pair probably had their best game of the series. pic.twitter.com/kRU9kbHOSm — Robert P. (@RobertJFTC) April 27, 2014

They could still squeak past the Kings without him but no Vlasic would mean the left side of the blueline is pure, unadulterated garbage. — Fear The Fin (@fearthefin) April 27, 2014

Keys to the Game for the Kings

It's only been done three times. The last time was in 2010 when the Flyers staged a comeback on the Boston Bruins.So why not now? Why not us?That's probably something going through the minds of the LA Kings right now as they approach Game 6 on home ice having been down 0-3 in the series to the Sharks.This series has done a complete 180 from the opening set in San Jose. It went from completely dominant on the side of San Jose, to a few bounces here and there, to "Well the Kings are becoming the Kings now."I, for one, do not believe in momentum from game to game. I think each game is a clean slate in which teams can reset and play within the game. When you are on the ice you aren't thinking about the series normally, you are thinking shift to shift. However, when tides start to turn like this it can start to be innerving no doubt.The Sharks looked unbeatable the first two games in the series with an impressive 13 goals for. They have since dried up, failing to register a goal in Game 5 in San Jose. If you are a Sharks fan that has to be a little bit concerning. The Kings also came out in that game looking ready to play, outshooting the Sharks 18-6 in the first 20 minutes of play.Just like in game 4, in which the Kings won 6-3, the Thornton line was threatening but ultimately a non factor for San Jose. Couture has likewise struggled since the opening two games of the series.The Sheppard line was also kept in check, which wasn't the case in the first two games of the series.So does San Jose mix it up? One thing will be changed for them and that is Alex Stalock will start in goal instead of Antti Niemi Niemi has been chased in consecutive games by the Kings, and Stalock has held the Kings without a goal on 26 shots in 57 minutes of play.Don't sleep on the 26-year old though, he's face the Kings just twice in his career and holds a .926 save percentage on one start and one relief appearance. With a .932 save percentage and a 12-5-2 record on the year he was more than capable this year as a back up to a struggling Niemi. He has, however, been far less effective in road games than home games. The sample size is small, but in 10 home games he has a .954 save percentage versus a .918 in 17 road games.Even with Stalock starting it might not be as easy as some people think.And Marc-Edouard Vlasic, arguably the Sharks best defenseman, will more than likely be out for Game 6 after taking a check from Jarret Stoll in Game 5. He did not take practice yesterday. (Will update if he takes part in the morning skate)It still remains to be seen if he will play, but San Jose is surely crossing their fingers...Confirmed, Vlasic is out.These are all very troubling signs for the Sharks. You have injuries to key players, goaltending issues, and a top line that has gone MIA the last two games.Then you flip it to the side of the Kings.Finally waking up after one of the most brutal starts to a playoff series in a long time. As many were quick to point out, Jonathan Quick gave up 13 goals in his first two starts, but has since given up six in the following three. Two of which were incredibly flukey hops, and the other he would have had to save with Robyn Regehr laying on top of him.The Kings scoring has also balanced out, with a new found life in the Kings second line of Tanner Pearson, Jeff Carter, and Tyler Toffoli. "That 70's line" as they are playfully getting called, had a humongous game 5, which could spell trouble for the Sharks if they are playing with a depleted defensive corps.Dustin Brown has come off two of his best games of the year, likewise with Justin Williams. Sutter swapped the two forwards after Game 3, and it looks to have paid extreme dividends in waking both players up.With these happenings the Kings have been able to balance out three threatening lines. Oh, and then there is Mike Richards playing 4C.Again, I don't believe in momentum in a series-wide regard, but this series feels like a pendulum at this point. In reality this series, without the good fortune to the Sharks in Game 3, could be 3-2 in favor of the Kings.It has been done before, and the Kings hold a ridiculous record against the Sharks at home. So why not the Kings? Don't miss the first 30 minutes of this hockey game. In all six games the first period and a half have been incredibly telling on how the game will go. An early goal by the Kings may slam the hopes of the Sharks and mentally put them back on the plane to the Bay Area. A goal early by the Sharks and the belief that this series could end tonight might spur them on.Don't you love playoff hockey? Such drama.My personal feelings? If the Kings manage a win here and tie this sucker up, all bets on the Sharks are off in my opinion. I just don't see them having the belief if that happens. Especially if Stalock gets ripped on tonight. I gave the Kings the nod in this series to start because of the mental edge they had over San Jose. While the Sharks ripped that away after Game 1 and 2, the Kings have picked away at it and are on the cusp of getting back.The Kings NEED these lines to be a threat. The team has thrived on being able to roll four lines, and it was part of the reason they were so successful in the last two playoffs. Balanced attack and threat from every line can wear a team thin and really test the depth. In the early goings of the series the Sharks were doing that. Sheppard, Desjardins, Wingels, and Hertl were running wild, but have since seen the number of shifts they've taken progressively get smaller and smaller. If the Kings can get the 2nd and 3rd lines rolling against the Sharks it's going to get very difficult to contain the Kopitar line coupled with two other potentially damaging forward groups.The Kings need to come out on all cylinders and bury this one early. If you let the Sharks hang around it could get very dicey towards the end. If it's Stalock in net you want to get at them early. If it's new defensive pairings shifted around due to Vlasic's absence, you want to get at them early. The first 20 minutes of play could very well dictate the outcome of the entire game. The key is that they have to score though. We've seen the Kings play dominant 1st periods only to come out and lay an egg in the 2nd. Early goals, early pressure, early shots, and put the disbelief into San Jose earlyThere was some notable nastiness in games 4 and 5. Just over the natural progression of the series, these teams have started to hate each other more and more. The Kings play a physically imposing style that can be both agitating and intimidating. They have to stick to that but also stay out of the box. San Jose has too many weapons on the powerplay to allow them time with the extra man. On the flip side, if the Kings can get the Sharks to take penalties you have to put them away, or at least sustain pressure. Again, it can't be stressed enough, if the Sharks are playing without Vlasic that's around 20 minutes and 25-30 shifts that a cold Shark defenseman is going to have to pick up.It should be a great one, so cancel plans, sit back, grab a drink and get ready.Follow me on twitter for news and notes about the Kings and the NHL