Dan Boyle News

They talked about urgency. They talked about the need to get more goals early to survive the inevitable third-period onslaught from the Los Angeles Kings.

Antti Niemi made 22 saves to help the San Jose Sharks take a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 of this Western Conference semifinal series.

"We haven't accomplished anything," the Sharks' coach said Monday. "We didn't get our work done in L.A., and that put us behind the eight ball.

San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi , of Finland, blocks a goal attempt against Los Angeles Kings center Mike Richards as San Jose Sharks defenseman Justin Braun looks on during the second period in Game 3 of their second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Saturday, May 18, 2013, in San Jose, Calif.

Logan Couture, Doughty's childhood pal and now a rival as a center for the San Jose Sharks, stayed behind the camera, deliberately beyond reach of the revered prize.

The Sharks are hoping for a lift from the notoriously loud HP Pavilion crowd Saturday night for a vital Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Los Angeles Kings.

Los Angeles Kings centre Jeff Carter celebrates his goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period in Game 2 of a second-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series, Thursday, May 16, 2013, in Los Angeles.

The Kings played a great opening two periods last night and withstood a barrage of shots in the third to hold off the Sharks and take the opening game of the series.

The Los Angeles Kings are not tricky or clever. They want to grind you down and wear you out.

Whatever confidence the Sharks gained with their four-game sweep of the Vancouver Canucks collided with the reality of Jonathan Quick on Tuesday night.

As is usual when the Sharks and Los Angeles Kings meet, much is already being made of the friendship between Sharks forward Logan Couture and Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.

In hindsight, defenseman Dan Boyle had reason to think that Sharks goalie Antti Niemi was about to elevate his game before the season even started.

The San Jose Sharks will get to face a familiar foe in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs in the chase for 2013 Stanley Cup: the defending-champion Los Angeles Kings .

The Sharks spent some time in practice Saturday preparing for what either the Chicago Blackhawks or the Los Angeles Kings might present to them in a second-round Stanley Cup playoff series.

Sharks general manager Doug Wilson does not usually tip his hand before making any moves, but in March he signaled that he was taking an unconventional approach to the NHL's April 3 trade deadline.

When the San Jose Sharks moved defenseman Brent Burns to forward in March it provided an immediate spark to what had been a lackluster season to that point.

The Sharks will have to wait until Sunday to find out who their opponent will be for the Western Conference semifinals after the Detroit Red Wings beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 in overtime Friday night to stave off elimination.

It's not quite like old times, when Brad Stuart was one of the Sharks' best offensive defenseman and a steady Scott Hannan had one of the more impressive heads of hair in the NHL.

The Sharks disclosed Thursday that they will be without right wing Adam Burish in the next round of the playoffs because of an upper body injury suffered in their series-clinching victory against the Vancouver Canucks.

May 7, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks celebrate with center Patrick Marleau after scoring the game winning goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the overtime period in game four of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at HP Pavilion.