Sharks morning skate: Martin still out as Kings invade San Jose

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Programming note: Kings-Sharks coverage starts tonight at 7pm with Sharks Pregame Live on CSN California.

Where they stand
Sharks: 4-2-0, 8 points, 1st Pacific Division
Kings: 2-3-0, 4 points, 5th Pacific Division

The latest

Sharks: The Sharks wrapped up a four-game road trip with their worst performance of the season in New York on Monday, losing 4-0 to the Rangers. They concluded the trip with a 2-2-0 mark. San Jose has played five of its first six on the road, but a three-game homestand begins tonight and continues with Carolina and Nashville.

[KURZ: Top 5 takeaways from Sharks' 2-2-0 road trip]

Kings: The Kings won their second straight at home on Sunday, beating Colorado, 2-1. Tyler Toffoli scored for the second straight game, and is the only Kings player with multiple goals (3). Tonight is Los Angeles’ first road game of the season.

Probable lines

Sharks
Matt Nieto – Joe Thornton – Joe Pavelski
Patrick Marleau – Tomas Hertl – Joel Ward
Barclay Goodrow – Chris Tierney – Tommy Wingels
Micheal Haley – Bryan Lerg – Mike Brown

Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Justin Braun
Brenden Dillon – Brent Burns
Mirco Mueller – Matt Tennyson

Martin Jones (confirmed starter)
Alex Stalock

Kings
Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Dustin Brown
Milan Lucic – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli
Tanner Pearson – Nick Shore – Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford – Andy Andreoff – Jordan Nolan

Brayden McNabb – Drew Doughty
Derek Forbort – Christian Ehrhoff
Jake Muzzin – Alec Martinez

Jhonas Enroth
Jonathan Quick (likely starter)

Keep an eye on…

Sharks: Matt Nieto. After the Rangers game Nieto was labeled as the team’s best forward that night by coach Pete DeBoer, who shifted the 22-year-old up to the Joe Thornton line in the second period. That’s where Nieto, who has one goal and two assists, will start tonight’s game.

[RELATED: Nieto likely to remain on Sharks' top line for now]

Kings: Milan Lucic. The summer acquisition hasn’t impressed with his new club at all, with just one assist through five games. Lucic went after Logan Couture late in the season opener after getting upended with a neutral zone check, and could be a target tonight.

Injuries/Scratches

Sharks: Joonas Donskoi (lower body), Paul Martin (lower body), Ben Smith (facial cuts), Paul Martin and Logan Couture (fractured right fibula) are out.

Kings: Matt Greene (upper body) and Dwight King (broken foot) are out.

Vitals

Sharks
Goals per game: 2.67 (14th)
Goals-against per game: 2.00 (T - 4th)
Power play: 15.8 percent (20th)
Penalty kill: 85.7 percent (11th)

Kings
Goals per game: 1.20 (29th)
Goals-against per game: 2.80 (23rd)
Power play: 4.8 percent (29th)
Penalty kill: 84.6 percent (14th)

Season series

The Sharks outclassed the Kings on opening night at Staples Center on Oct. 7, 5-1. Joe Pavelski had a game high three points (1g, 2a).

The Sharks return to Staples Center on Dec. 22, while the Kings visit SAP Center on Jan. 24 and March 28.

Odds and ends

*Bryan Lerg was recalled from the Barracuda on Thursday morning, one day after getting reassigned. Mirco Mueller and Micheal Haley were recalled from the Barracuda on Wednesday. Nikolay Goldobin and Dylan DeMelo were reassigned.

*The Kings made just one appearance at SAP Center last season. Their second visit to San Jose was at Levi’s Stadium.

*The Sharks will honor forward Scott Thornton before tonight’s game as part of their 25h anniversary alumni appreciation.

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