SAN JOSE — Trap averted.
The Sharks (24-13-7) showdown with the Los Angeles Kings (17-24-3) had all the ingredients to be a classic letdown game. The game came on the heels of an emotional win over the NHL’s top team where the Sharks played without three starting defensemen. The Kings entered the game ranked 15th in the Western Conference, an easy opponent to look past. The Sharks are also in middle of another grueling stretch, playing three games in four nights at home with a fourth game in six days coming up in Las Vegas on Thursday.
It would have been easy to set things on cruise control Monday night.