Kings’ Loss to Sharks Is an Unofficial Low

SAN JOSE —  San Jose Shark fans started a “Beat L.A.” chant nine seconds into Saturday’s game against the Kings.

So the Sharks did as requested.

Nils Ekman had a goal and an assist and the Sharks beat the Kings, 3-1, before a crowd of 17,496 people at HP Pavilion.

On a day when the Kings set an unofficial record for most man-games lost to injury, there were few other things worth recording for the visitors.

The Kings did not have a shot on a four-minute power play that could have tilted the game their direction, they had trouble finishing scoring chances, and Alexander Frolov, their top goal-scorer, was benched for part of the game because of what he said was explained to him as not working hard enough in the game.

In the process, the Kings tumbled from eighth to ninth in the Western Conference, one spot below the playoff line of demarcation.

Frolov, who has 22 goals, had 14:12 of ice time, the least he has had since Dec. 16. He played only 4:23 in the third period.

“He got sat down a bit,” King Coach Andy Murray said. “Everything is based on merit. It’s one game that he didn’t play good. We’re in a one-shift, one-period, one-game mode right now. We can’t wait for players and say, ‘He’ll work himself out of this one and be good the next game.’ If you’re not good, we’ve got to get somebody else in there that could be good.”

Said Frolov, quietly: “He said I should work harder. I guess I wasn’t good enough.”

The Kings weren’t as good or as lucky as the Sharks, needing an extra inch of net on two occasions that could have made things more interesting. But Frolov’s shot from the slot in the first period rolled over the shoulder of goaltender Vesa Toskala, hit the crossbar and fluttered away. Jaroslav Modry’s slap shot in the second period hit the right post.

“We had ample opportunities,” Murray said. “There’s lots of scoring chances. Point men walking in and blasting pucks. [Evgeni] Nabokov played very well. We have to take responsibility for not screening or getting in front of him.”

The Kings have now lost 576 man-games to injury, passing the 573 lost by the Boston Bruins in 1991-92 in a category unrecognized officially by the NHL, but it was the Sharks that lost a player Saturday.

Toskala left after the first period because of what the Sharks called a “lower-body injury.” Toskala’s replacement, Nabokov, had 25 saves.

The Kings failed to test the Shark defense when Ekman was hit with a double minor after high-sticking Eric Belanger in the mouth at 19:46 of the first period.

The Sharks ejected the puck within seconds almost every time it entered their zone and showed why they have the NHL’s top penalty-killing unit at home.

The Sharks, who have given up only 11 goals in 128 short-handed situations at home, snuffed out all five King power plays.

“I don’t think anyone was happy with the output of that power play,” King right wing Trent Klatt said. “If you get a goal there, it’s 2-2. If you get two goals, it’s a totally different game. There wasn’t enough desperation on that power play.”

The Kings’ lone scoring highlight came on Joe Corvo’s slap shot from the right circle that tied the score, 1-1, 9:35 into the first period.

But the Sharks struck back 38 seconds later, Ekman’s scoring on a backdoor play that started with Kyle McLaren’s pass from behind the right circle.

And at 9:23 of the second period, Ekman’s pass through the slot set up Alyn McCauley for a one-timer past Cristobal Huet and a 3-1 lead.

The Kings play host to the Mighty Ducks today, providing a quick chance at atonement.

“Thank goodness we play again [Sunday],” Klatt said. “We just have to come out and put forth a much better effort.”

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Luc Robitaille played his 1,000th career game with the Kings, second only to Dave Taylor’s 1,111 games as a King.