LOS ANGELES — In a thrilling home opener, Warren Foegele scored two goals, leading the Los Angeles Kings to a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night, rendering the Sharks winless this season.
The Kings quickly dominated the first period, netting all three of their goals within just 7:05. Bringing in Foegele was a strategic move to bolster the Kings’ toughness, and he demonstrated that physicality by positioning himself effectively around the net to secure his two tallies. Additionally, Jordan Spence contributed with a goal, while goaltender David Rittich made 24 saves to fend off the Sharks’ attacks.
For San Jose, Mikael Granlund stood out with two power-play goals, with the second one coming heartbreakingly close to the end of the game, just 59.2 seconds remaining. Meanwhile, Mackenzie Blackwood turned away 27 shots on goal, though the efforts weren’t enough to change the outcome.
Key takeaways from the match include the understanding that San Jose’s season is intended to focus on development rather than immediate victories. By opting to make young talents, such as center Will Smith, a healthy scratch, it raises concerns that opportunities to grow as a team could be squandered on nights like this.
On the other hand, the Kings, who finished last season with an impressive 14-3-1 home record post-All-Star break, continued their strong performance in their first game on home ice this season.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Foegele positioned himself in front of Granlund, deftly tipping in Brandt Clarke’s shot at 11:36 in the first period, extending the Kings’ lead to 3-0. This marked Foegele’s third goal in just two games, showcasing his effective integration into the Kings’ lineup.
Statistically, the Sharks have now gone eight games without a win in back-to-back seasons, becoming the first team to achieve this dubious distinction since the Boston Bruins in the early 1960s. Currently, San Jose holds a record of 0-6-2, dipping lower than last season’s start of 11 straight losses (0-10-1).
Looking ahead, the Sharks will continue their four-game road trip with a matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday evening. Conversely, the Kings are set to host the Utah Hockey Club for the first time in a Saturday afternoon showdown.