from Helene Elliott of the LA Times,

Players were supposed to be rested and refreshed after a season that ended in early April instead of late June, purposeful about this season after not getting a chance to defend their title.

None of that was evident against the Sharks, themselves playoff spectators last spring and now playing for a new coach, Peter DeBoer. “It was a brutal start by us,” Kings defenseman Matt Greene said. “We have to be a lot better in all aspects of the game. Just a game where you just want to learn from, obviously, but just get it out of the way early, hopefully move on and be productive from here on out. And refocus on Friday, because we've got to start winning some games.”

Yes, there's urgency already. “It's huge,” Greene said of losing to the division-rival Sharks. “We're going to be battling with this team for the playoffs and we just spotted them two points. I don't think they had to work too hard for that one, so it's frustrating. It's frustrating even if it is the first game of the year.”

The top line of Anze Kopitar centering for Marian Gaborik and Milan Lucic was a combined for minus-6 defensively, generated four shots on goal and had little chemistry, though that might improve over time.

“Flat,” Kings Coach Darryl Sutter said of the trio's performance.

Was he surprised? “Yeah,” he said, the one word carrying the full weight of his disapproval.

read on