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."