If the Los Angeles Kings are going to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, it will be much more difficult than it was in 2012. Last season the Kings did not trail during their quest to being crowned champions. They went 10-1 during road games while becoming the first No. 8 seed to win the Stanley Cup. Those days are long gone after the Kings lost again on the road to tie their series with the San Jose Sharks.
Since the beginning of April, the Kings have won just once in 11 road games. They lost in overtime in Game 3 after a late penalty led to the winning power-play goal. Los Angeles was hoping to win at least one game in San Jose to take a 3-1 series lead and instead lost 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Brent Burns and Logan Couture scored in the first and second period respectively to give the Sharks a quick lead. They withstood a short-lived comeback after Mike Richards converted a power-play goal in the third period to bring the Kings briefly back into the game.
The series now switches back to the Staples Center where the Kings have won 12 straight games. Five of those wins have come in the playoffs. They are 24-4-1 overall at home this season. The Sharks improve to 4-0 at home, beating the Kings for the seventh straight time at HP Pavilion. The last time the Kings won in San Jose was in 2011 during the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The Sharks went on to win the series. San Jose is not concerned with having to get a win on the road.
"We knew going into this series we'd have to win one game at Staples Center if we want to win this series. We've done our job at home. We need to go into L.A. and win a game on Thursday. We're looking forward to it," Couture said.
The Kings are now in a bit of desperation. They have to get a win at home in order to avoid feeling pressure back in San Jose.
