Sharks vs. Kings: 3 things you need to know
The San Jose Sharks don't have to wait any longer to face the team that ended their season in the first round of the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Kings rallied to defeat San Jose on their way to the Stanley Cup and will raise their championship banner prior to hosting the Sharks as part of the NHL's opening-night action.
The Sharks are eager to put last season's humiliating exit behind them and spoil the Kings' banner-raising celebration in the first of five meetings between the Pacific Division rivals.
Here are three things you need to know:
It was 3-0
The Kings became the fourth team in NHL history to win a playoff series after losing the first three games when they stormed back to hand the Sharks their latest playoff humiliation.
The Sharks recent history is littered with postseason disappointments, but none stung as much as letting a potential series sweep turn into another missed opportunity. San Jose was embarrassed by Los Angeles after Game 3, getting outscored 12-2 over the final three contests.
Coming back from the brink of elimination gave the Kings enough confidence to do something the Sharks have never done: win the Stanley Cup. That the Kings have celebrated that joy twice in the past three seasons only adds salt to the Sharks' wounds.
Sharks in transition
Much of the blame for the Sharks' playoff collapse was focused on captain Joe Thornton, who recorded just three points in the seven-game series. Thornton was stripped of the captaincy during the offseason, much like Patrick Marleau in 2009 after another first-round playoff exit.
The decision seems to be part of a larger trend towards favoring youth in the Sharks roster. Matthew Nieto and Tomas Hertl made big impressions during their rookie years last season, which could be why Mirco Mueller, Chris Tierney, and Barclay Goodrow are all preparing to make their NHL debuts after making the team out of training camp.
The Sharks have yet to name a successor to Thornton as captain, a sign of the uncertainty surrounding the direction of the franchise. Contests like Wednesday's season opener should help indicate whether or not the Sharks transition is really more of a rebuild.
Marquee meetings
The rivalry between the Sharks and Kings is poised to reach new heights during their five-game regular-season series. The teams open and close their seasons with meetings in Los Angeles, but it's the Kings second trip to the Bay Area that promises to be the most memorable contest.
San Jose will host the Kings at Levi's Stadium for an outdoor game in February as part of the NHL's Stadium Series. It's the second outdoor game in California following last season's Stadium Series tilt between the Kings and the Anaheim Ducks at Dodgers Stadium.
The Levi's Stadium game will provide national exposure for two teams often overlooked due to time zone. It will also be the penultimate meeting between the Sharks and Kings, who will have three prior games of animosity to draw from heading into it.
Wednesday's season-opener will be the beginning of the latest chapter between two teams who have faced off 47 times since the start of the 2009-10 season, and should help set the stage for one of the season's marquee events.