It’s a Record They Don’t Want

The Kings, already holders of various records thanks to an unpredictable and, in the end, unsuccessful season, could set another mark today in their season finale.

If the Kings lose to the San Jose Sharks, they will set a team record with their 11th consecutive loss, longest losing streak in the club’s 37-season history.

The Kings have already set an unofficial NHL record for man-games lost to injury -- they will finish with more than 620, depending on who suits up today -- and they reeled off the third-longest winless streak in team history during a 14-game midseason slide, but the latest problem is enough to set off the normally stoic Mattias Norstrom.

“We found a way to put ourselves in [playoff] position all year, and then coming down the stretch, playing the way we are now, losing 10 in a row, I would say this is one of the toughest situations I’ve ever been in in my 11-year career,” he said.

Silver linings, if there are any in this situation, would have to be uncovered from a year ago, when the Kings won their season finale in Vancouver in a similarly meaningless game for the Kings that damaged the Canucks’ playoff positioning. The Kings denied the Canucks their first division title in 10 seasons and prevented Markus Naslund from winning the scoring title by holding him without a point.

But the Kings have had problems with the Sharks all season, going 0-4-1 and getting outscored by the Pacific Division champions, 20-8.

The Kings’ 3-0 loss Wednesday to the Sharks at Staples Center prompted King Coach Andy Murray to call the Kings’ effort “awful,” saying he hadn’t “felt like I’ve felt tonight my whole coaching career.”

The Kings looked slightly better Friday in a 3-2 loss to the Calgary Flames, although they tied a season low with only 15 shots. The result, not surprisingly, was the same as that of their last 10 games.

“It’s hard to pinpoint what it is,” said left wing Luc Robitaille, who could be playing his final NHL game because of the looming lockout. “The hardest thing we have to do is we have to accept [not making playoffs]. We have no choice now. That’s the hardest thing for me.”

Robitaille, 38, has said he might play in Europe or he could retire if the lockout drags on.

TODAY

at San Jose, 1 p.m., Fox Sports Net

Site -- HP Pavilion.

Radio -- KDIS (1110).

Records -- Kings 28-29-16-8, Sharks 42-21-12-6.

Record vs. Sharks -- 0-4-1-0.

Update -- The Sharks didn’t look sharp in a 4-1 loss Friday to Vancouver, but they had already secured the No. 2 playoff spot in the Western Conference. Patrick Marleau and Jonathan Cheechoo each have 28 goals for the Sharks. King right wing Trent Klatt has 42 points, two shy of his all-time high.