Sharks vs Kings

SAN JOSE -- Marc-Edouard Vlasic has carried the label of "one of the most underrated players in the NHL" for years, but that description has changed as more people recognized his abilities.

Now it's "he's one of the elite players in the NHL," and that's part of why his potential absence for Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round series could be a big problem Monday night for the San Jose Sharks against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS, CSN-CA, PRIME).

Vlasic did not practice with the team Sunday after not playing in the final 45 minutes of Game 5 on Saturday night. He didn't skate Monday morning and there reportedly was not a locker stall set up for him at Staples Center.

SAN JOSE -- The San Jose Sharks are known for their fast starts at SAP Center, where they've made a habit of overwhelming opponents in the first period.

But when the puck dropped Saturday night for Game 5 of their Western Conference First Round series against the Los Angeles Kings, it was as if the Sharks were skating in quicksand and the Kings on lightning-fast ice.

The Kings bolted to a 2-0 first-period lead on goals by Tyler Toffoli and Anze Kopitar. They added a power-play goal 22 seconds into the second period when Jeff Carter scored and cruised to a 3-0 victory, cutting the Sharks lead to 3-2 in the best-of-7 series with Game 6 set for Monday night at Staples Center (10 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, RDS, CSN-CA, PRIME).

SAN JOSE -- The San Jose Sharks were forced to play most of Game 5 of their Western Conference First Round series against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday without star defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and he could miss Game 6, coach Todd McLellan said after his team's 3-0 loss.

Vlasic left the game with 5:51 remaining in the first period after being checked into the boards by Kings center Jarret Stoll, who received a minor penalty for roughing. Vlasic did not return to the game.

SAN JOSE -- Less than 24 hours after the San Jose Sharks lost 6-3 to the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 of their Western Conference First Round series, Sharks coach Todd McLellan gathered his players Friday afternoon to watch video of that defeat.

McLellan hammered home the same message he delivered late Friday night in his postgame interview at Staples Center: The Sharks' net play wasn't strong enough at either end of the ice.

The Sharks have a 3-1 lead in their best-of-7 series with Game 5 on Saturday at SAP Center (10:30 p.m. ET; CNBC, RDS2, CBC, FS-W, CSN-CA). They are looking to make amends, end the series, and avoid a Game 6 in Los Angeles.

"They are going to the net hard trying to push [goaltender Antti Niemi] in the crease, keep him in the crease," Sharks center Logan Couture said. "We have to box out, get sticks [on pucks] and then on the opposite end go to the net hard on [Kings goaltender Jonathan] Quick and make him uncomfortable. Tip-in goals, rebound goals, that's how we've scored all series. We have to get back to that."

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- San Jose Sharks rookies Tomas Hertl and Matt Nieto have earned plenty of deserved praise for their play in the Western Conference First Round series against the Los Angeles Kings.

San Jose leads the best-of-7 series 3-1 and will try to finish off Los Angeles in Game 5 at SAP Center on Saturday (10:00pm ET; CNBC, CBC, RDS2, FS-W, CSN-CA), but the Kings also have a couple of rookies who are making an impact. Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson were united on the second line next to Jeff Carter and played well in a 6-3 win for Los Angeles in Game 4 on Thursday.

"They've brought a lot of energy, a lot of speed, a lot of skill," veteran center Jarret Stoll said. "They've both got great shots. They can score on any goalie in this League, I believe. They've played in some big games and are so young, it is pretty impressive to see them playing the way they are playing, especially against a team like San Jose. That's a tough team, and for them to be playing well and playing in important situations is pretty impressive."

LOS ANGELES -- One of the stories that came out of the Los Angeles Kings' 2012 Stanley Cup run was an inspirational speech by Justin Williams before the Cup-clinching win in Game 6. Teammates won't divulge details but have suggested Williams touched on not letting the moment slip away.

Thursday, Williams again stepped up for the Kings.

Williams scored two goals in the second period to help Los Angeles beat the San Jose Sharks 6-3 at Staples Center and avoid a sweep. Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round series is Saturday at SAP Center (10 p.m. ET; CBC, CNBC, RDS2, FS-W, CSN-CA).

For additional insight into the Stanley Cup Playoff series between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings, NHL.com has enlisted the help of former NHL coach Perry Pearn to break down the action. Pearn will be checking in throughout the series.

Pearn has spent the past 18 seasons as an assistant coach in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and a second tenure with the Jets in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

LOS ANGELES -- The San Jose Sharks have a surprising 3-0 lead in their Western Conference First Round series, and one of the biggest themes to this point has been how the Los Angeles Kings have struggled to slow down the speedy Sharks.

San Jose has 17 goals in three games and has looked like a significantly swifter club, generating offensive chances in bunches and shortly after taking the puck away from the Kings.

"The one thing I see in this series is the Sharks' transition game has been outstanding," Pearn said. "I think it's fed a little bit by the fact that L.A. has given up the puck in opportune positions on the ice, but I think the transition game has made San Jose look that much faster than L.A. To me, it has been the difference in every game. It's created chances and created momentum with San Jose."

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The additions of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter helped propel the Los Angeles Kings to the 2012 Stanley Cup. The two are supposed to be major pieces in what was expected to be a long run as championship contenders.

It hasn't turned out as scripted, but Richards and Carter aren't done telling the story of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The forwards were factors in Game 3 of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks, a 4-3 overtime loss, and it's something the Kings need to tap into down 3-0 in the best-of-7 series going into Game 4 on Thursday at Staples Center (10:30 p.m. PT; NBCSN, CBC, RDS, CSN-CA, FS-W).

Richards, a former captain with the Philadelphia Flyers, said it's a challenge the Kings should embrace.

"It's easy to say," Richards said. "But I think, as a group, you just have to know that one, it's not going to be easy, and two, it is possible.

"It's a good opportunity for us to show -- everybody's kind of writing us off right now -- a good opportunity to show how resilient we are right now as a group. We've done good things in the past and this is just another thing we have to be excited to accomplish."

LOS ANGELES -- When Matt Nieto watched games during the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, there was a good chance one of his old pals was on the television screen.

Three of Nieto's former teammates with the L.A. Hockey Club, a traveling youth team in Southern California, made their NHL postseason debuts in 2013. Emerson Etem of the Anaheim Ducks, Beau Bennett of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Jason Zucker of the Minnesota Wild were all on that big stage a year ago, while Nieto had just completed his junior season at Boston University and signed his first professional contract.

Just as Nieto had to wait an extra year to be drafted because of his November birthday, he had to wait a year to join in on the Stanley Cup Playoffs fun. And just as Etem became a surprise star for the Ducks in 2013, Nieto's postseason career is off to a great start with a goal and four points in three games for the San Jose Sharks, who lead the Los Angeles Kings 3-0 in a Western Conference First Round series.

LOS ANGELES -- There wasn't a sense of shock in a nearly empty Los Angeles Kings dressing room. Perhaps that's because they long ago realized what they're up against with the San Jose Sharks in this Western Conference First Round series.

The Kings played by far their best game of the series Tuesday yet face a 3-0 series deficit for the first time since the 2000 conference quarterfinals after Patrick Marleau's soft backhand glanced off the stick of Kings defenseman Slava Voynov at 6:20 of overtime for a 4-3 San Jose win at Staples Center.

Game 4 is Thursday in Los Angeles (10:30 p.m. ET; CBC, RDS, NBCSN, CSN-CA, FS-W).