MCT/San Jose


How many players does it take to solve an identity crisis?
On this night, at least four players helped the Los Angeles Kings get there with meaningful contributions in their 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center. It was their first road game of the season and the four goals scored happened to be a season-high and avenged a rough loss to the Sharks in their season opener Oct. 7.
There were Jeff Carter’s four points leading the way on Thursday night, two goals and two assists. The four points in a game tied a career high for Carter.
His second goal was on the power play via a wild bounce off the glass, coming down and banking in off the leg of Sharks goalie Martin Jones at 9:37 of the third period, making the score, 4-1.
“I think it was big for us to come in and prove ourselves,” Carter said. “I don’t know if that’s the right word. But we pretty much had to _ they pretty much ran over us in Game 1.”
Another show-stopping moment came in the first period and was crafted by Tyler Toffoli, who deked and feinted and simply confused the heck out of his good friend and former teammate, Jones.
Toffoli maneuvered past the goal line, pulled it back and tucked the puck inside the left post, making it 1-0 at 11:37 of the first period.
“I knew Carts (Carter) and (Lucic) were jumping up in the rush. I kind of made Joner (Jones) think there was going to be a pass maybe. I think it just opened things up for me. I almost toe-picked, my first move, and I think I blacked out from there.”
He has scored in three straight games, tying a career high. Of the Kings’ 10 goals this season, Toffoli has scored four of them.
Milan Lucic scored his first goal as a King and backup goalie Jhonas Enroth secured his first win in his first start with the Kings. He faced 40 shots in all, including 30 shots through the first 40 minutes.
Of late, Kings Coach Darryl Sutter has gone back to the word “identity,” and he did it again after the morning skate.
“We’re finding our work ethic again and our identity again,” Sutter said, citing the turnover and loss of strong leaders such as Justin Williams, Jarret Stoll, Robyn Regehr and Mike Richards.